Community asked to partake in survey to provide input on what permanent superintendent should posses
A survey has become live for what the community would like to see in their new superintendent for the School District of Lee County.
The English Survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VS3NWT7; the Spanish Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VTGFV8Q and the Haitian Creole Survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VZJGH3V. The survey can also be found on the district’s website, www.leeschools.net. The community will have the opportunity to answer the survey until 8 a.m. Oct. 7.
Board Chair Debbie Jordan said it is very important that they seek everybody’s input due to the fact that the superintendent’s role is very important to the board.
“In going forward and looking for our permanent superintendent we don’t want to be the only people putting our two sense in. We want to make sure we are reaching out to the community, teachers, staff and business leaders,” she said.
The survey asks individuals to rank their top 10 characteristics that are most important in the selection of a superintendent candidate out of 31 qualities.
“What is the most important thing that you believe this candidate needs to posses,” Jordan asked.
She also said the survey asks if the community is looking for a business person, or one who has a background in education.
There is also a place where individuals can answer the question, What would you like prospective candidates to know about your district and community? The survey also asks the individual what group they represent – teacher, administrator, support staff, parent, student, or non-parent community member.
“I am excited to see what comes out of the survey and what the community and our teachers and staff, what everybody is looking for in that leader position,” Jordan said.
Jordan said, Ray & Associates, the firm the district hired to help with the search of a permanent superintendent, will take all the questions and answers and combine them together to ensure the process is transparent. She said they will share what they believe the majority of people are looking for in a superintendent.
Jordan said it is important that all the board members get the same information at the same time.
“We are really listening and hearing what is being sent to us. In the end we have to make that decision,” she said. “When we are speaking to the candidates that will be something we can ask, those questions, because we know it is very important.”
Staff within the school district were among the first to receive the survey.
“We believe our staff is really important and this is a person they will be working for, if you will,” Jordan said.
The survey was then sent to parents before it was given to the community through such groups as chambers, business leaders in the community and the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
“We do want to hear what everybody is saying and what is important for this candidate to posses,” Jordan said.
Board Member Gwyn Gittens said the survey is a good thing to gather input, but her concern is communication. She asked if people are really going to provide input, participate, or not for various reasons.
“When I talk about public input, I talk about across the board. I want to hear from everybody,” Gittens said.
She said the East Zone is one of the largest per capita districts, the most diverse and the most with language barrier.
“I have to continue to think what do these people think. Do they know they can give an opinion,” Gittens asked. “Are we communicating well enough to them and simply enough,” Gittens said.
She said individuals need to realize they have a voice and the survey is one way they can use it to express their thoughts about the permanent superintendent.
“We are a 60 majority, 40 percent minority district. Are we hearing enough from those working class families with multiple children in our school system,” Gittens asked.
Another concern was the wordiness of the survey and how it seems to be directed to a certain demographic. She said it does not appear that is looking for a parent, or student’s opinion.
“I am not drawn to this because of the way it is worded. The fact that it says the organization and qualities and characteristics . . . why can’t we simplify stuff,” Gittens said. “I want to make sure we get information from everybody. I don’t see a lot of our average demographic of parents going on(line) and doing this.”
A Facebook Live Town Hall with Gittens will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 to discuss the survey and answer any questions the public may have, as well as share the importance of the public’s participation. Individuals can participate in her Facebook town hall by visiting Gwynetta Holloway-Gittens.
In addition to the survey, the community will also have the opportunity to join a town hall meeting on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. Jordan said Ray & Associates did not want board members to be at the community meetings, which will allow the community to speak freely and share their thoughts.
Gittens said with the town halls she wants to hear what education leadership looks like to parents and kids.
The school board has chosen the 60-day timeline, which will include posting the superintendent position in October, with an application deadline of Dec. 13. The week of Jan. 10, preliminary interviews of semi-finalists will be done by the board. Finalist interviews will be conducted the week of Jan. 17.