The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Board sets characteristics desired in superintendent
Local officials want a 'people person' to fill the position
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 17, 2008
People are more concerned that the next superintendent of Saline Area Schools should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills than a doctorate or expertise in curriculum development, according to informal survey results compiled by a consultant hired to assist the district in its search for a new superintendent.
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With March 25 the date the Saline school board has targeted for selecting the district's next superintendent, the board approved Monday a profile of qualifications and characteristics it would like to see in candidates.
Michael Emlaw, a consultant with the Michigan Association of School Boards, created the profile, in part based on input from public meetings. In total, he estimated 130 to 150 people participated in the meetings.
In addition, Emlaw received approximately 25 individual responses through a superintendent's selection questionnaire posted on the district's Web site.
The profile doesn't require candidates to have been a teacher or a principal, but only to have demonstrated success in some leadership role in an educational setting. It requires candidates have a master's degree and some graduate study.
"The way to keep all your options open is to not require the person be a teacher or principal," Emlaw told the board, adding that the minimal requirements listed were "probably as minimal as I've ever seen."
The personal traits and characteristics of the next superintendent "seemed to be of overwhelming interest to participants," Emlaw said.
"It's very evident that participants want to see a new superintendent with a demonstrated record of good human relations and communication skills, along with honesty and personal and professional integrity," Emlaw wrote in his summary to the board. "There were a great many comments on the need to foster teamwork, collaboration and trust."
The deadline for applications is Feb. 8, with interviews scheduled to begin the week of March 4. A decision is expected March 25.
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