BOARD OF EDUCATION SETS FORUM DATES TO GATHER INPUT FOR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH; ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ALSO AVAILABLE

As its search for a superintendent moves forward, the Board of Education will sponsor a series of public forums and an online survey to garner public input as to the qualities and characteristics needed for the next leader of Maryland’s fifth largest school system.

Evening public forums will be held according to the following schedule:

  • Tuesday, December 10, in the Board Room at the Parham Building,  2644 Riva Road, Annapolis
  • Wednesday, December 11, in the cafeteria at Glen Burnie High School, 7550 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie
  • Thursday, December 12, in the cafeteria at Arundel High School, 1001 Annapolis Road, Gambrills
  • Thursday, December 12, in the cafeteria at Severna Park Middle School, 450 Jumpers Hole Road, Severna Park

The forums, conducted by the search firm Ray & Associates, will be split into two segments. School system employees should attend from 5 to 6 p.m. and parents, students, and community representatives should attend from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

There will also be a daytime public forum from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 12 in the Board Room at the Parham Building.

Spanish interpreters will be available at all forums for families who need translation services.

Additional forums with targeted focus groups will be held at the Parham Building during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Attendees of those forums are being notified by the Board of Education.

Anyone who cannot attend a forum is encouraged to provide input through on online questionnaire that can be found at www.aacps.org/suptsearch. That questionnaire will be open from Monday, November 25, through Thursday, December 12. It can be filled out anonymously and will be available in English, Spanish, Urdu, Korean, and Vietnamese.

The search firm will examine data gathered from the forums and online questionnaire to market the position to qualified applicants throughout the winter. The Board will also examine the data before screening and interviewing candidates next spring.

Interim Superintendent Mamie J. Perkins’ contract runs through June 30, 2014. The new superintendent will begin a four-year term on July 1, 2014.