Jeffco school board to weigh superintendent search options at Aug. 21 retreat
The board’s agenda presents competitive quotes, an RFP and a CASB-HYA cooperative purchase as options, but leaves the search method, scope, funding and total cost unresolved.
The Jeffco school board is scheduled to discuss how to choose a search firm for the district’s next permanent superintendent during an Aug. 21 leadership-transition session at its retreat in Golden. The board has not selected a procurement method, firm or search scope, according to the retreat agenda and supporting procurement materials.
The 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. session is expected to cover the procurement plan, timeline and board members’ roles. The materials present three options: seeking competitive quotes, issuing a formal request for proposals, or using a cooperative-purchasing agreement through the Colorado Association of School Boards’ master agreement with Hazard, Young, Attea, commonly known as HYA.
The packet outlines narrower and broader approaches. Under the narrower option, a firm would develop a leadership profile and search calendar, recruit and screen candidates, vet applicants and support finalist selection, while district staff would lead community engagement and communications. The broader option would have the firm lead community engagement, conduct national recruitment, carry out more comprehensive screening, lead finalist forums and interviews, and assist with compensation and transition planning.
Possible engagement could include students, families, staff, school leaders, labor partners, community organizations and the broader public through surveys, focus groups, forums and interviews. National sourcing, reference checks, credential verification and background-check coordination are also listed. Compensation benchmarking, contract-negotiation support, a transition plan, a six-month online Transition Academy and first-year evaluation support are described as optional or possible services, not confirmed requirements.
The CASB-HYA option would allow the district to use a pre-competed cooperative purchase rather than conduct its own search-firm RFP. HYA would present to the board, which would still need to approve the scope, pricing, optional services and cooperative award.
The packet lists projected CASB-HYA pricing of $60,500, plus a fee of 20% of the new superintendent’s starting salary, capped at $60,500. Advertising, administrative costs and selected additional services would cost extra, but the materials do not provide amounts for those expenses, the starting salary or a total-not-to-exceed figure. Historical 2020 Jeffco search figures cited in the packet range from $32,500 to $57,500 plus advertising; the document says a current quote would be required.
The district’s June budget materials and June record concerning interim Superintendent Robert Stein do not identify an approved account, fund or budget line for the permanent search.
The board’s Aug. 21 discussion is scheduled to address whether to use the cooperative HYA agreement or conduct its own competition, how much authority a firm would have over public engagement and finalist forums, which services would be required and how the work would be funded. The available record does not document a final decision, contract or search launch date.