Colby takes next step in SI search
The Colby school board received a report regarding the results of the Leadership Profile Assessment performed by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, or HYA, the company they have hired to assist in finding a replacement for superintendent Dr. Steven Kolden. This assessment was performed to help the board and the search firm discover the perceptions of the community on the current state of the district and their opinions on the superintendent position. They can then use this information when conducting their search for a new superintendent.
Scott Winch, who is the representative assisting the board, gave the report, which discussed the data gathered from interviews, focus groups, and online surveys that were conducted. In these various forums, district staff, students, and community members were asked to discuss what they see as strengths and challenges for the district as well as what characteristics they would like to see in their new superintendent. After taking the information from each of these, Winch and HYA were able to highlight key items that seemed to recur across the various groups.
Noted strengths included community pride and support of the district, dedicated staff, the varied number of opportunities and activities for students provided by the school, and the current fiscal position that the district is in. Challenges that were highlighted were the retention of staff, aging facilities, adjusting to special education and ELL population growth, a need for increased training and professional development for staff, improved communication between the district and parents and the community, and updates to classroom technology and materials.
When looking at what these groups wanted in a new superintendent, the most common responses revolved around someone who will be involved in and visible at school and community events, will value and support staff to help with retention and aid when necessary, and will create new initiatives to improve education in the district and create and maintain a healthy school environment for staff and students.
The online survey reflected similar ideas. The biggest difference between the two lay in the realm of utilization of technology in the district, where it was largely named a strength by 55 percent of those taking the survey. The board questioned what exactly were the concerns of the community in the realm of the technology and that perhaps more specifics would need to be found. Winch noted that in the live discussions, certain aspects of the use of technology were named as positives, especially from students.
Sixty-seven people participated in live discussions or interviews and 71 individuals took part in the online survey.
Following the assessment report, Winch stated that they have received five applications as of the time of the meeting and that it is expected that the district will have around ten applicants for the position by the time of the deadline. Interviews of candidates are set for mid-February.
n The board honored four student athletes who received Academic All-State Honors. Those students were Eli Schmitt, Grant Oehlrich, Lucas Baumann and Caden Healy.
n The board approved a motion to subcontract their summer janitorial staff through Dashir. While the number of hours that can be allotted towards summer janitorial staff needed to be cut from 2,000 to 1,600, the benefits of moving logistical and administrative work over to Dashir and the fact that all janitorial staff would be paid the same outweighed the increased cost. It was also noted that only 1,767 of the 2,000 budgeted hours were used last summer.
n Strategic planning goals for 202327 were set at the meeting. The goals were split into four categories: teaching and learning, community engagement, technology and facilities. A monitoring system was also put in place so that the board can see how each of these goals are being worked towards on a regular basis and, with the chairs of each group to report on an annual basis.
