Superintendent search starts
Published 11:38 pm Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Members of the Selma City School Board aren’t wasting any time in a search for a new superintendent to replace Austin Obasohan.
On Tuesday the school board during its work session heard from three professional search companies about how they could recruit nationwide candidates for the open position. Obasohan’s official last day is today. He has taken a job as superintendent of schools in Duplin County, N.C.
The school board did not make a decision. It will meet in regular session 6 p.m., Thursday, July 8, at the School of Discovery.
School board attorney Katie Campbell said the board has a limited time — about four months — to hire a new superintendent.
Among those in competition for the search job are:
Ray & Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, represented by Steve Triplett and Al Johnson. The company has been in business since 1975. Representatives for the search company said it would charge a fee of $15,500.
McPherson & Jacobson of Omaha, Neb., represented by John Smith and Sonny Savoie, both of Louisiana. This firm conducted the last search for a Selma schools superintendent, resulting in the hiring of Obasohan. Representatives for the company said it would charge a fee of $13,500.
John Patterson, who is assisted by two other retired educators put together this Alabama-based search company. Patterson was the first principal of Mountainbrook High School. He said his group would charge a fee of $6,500.
As the search continues, the school system has Don Jefferson as its interim superintendent.