School Board Interviews Three Superintendent Search Firms

The Jefferson County Board of Education held a special meeting Wednesday to interview search firms that will help find a new superintendent.Current superintendent Sheldon Berman’s contract expires at the end of JuneTwo of the firms: Iowa-based Ray and Associates and Florida-based Greenwood/Asher and Associates have experience in Kentucky. The latter has worked with the state government and is now helping the University of Kentucky find a new president. Ray and Associates helped the state find an education commissioner in 2007. That candidate resigned before taking office due in part to inaccuracies in her resume. A representative for the firm said they did as they were asked by the state at the time. The other firm being considered is Nebraska-based McPherson and Jacobson.Chairman of the Board Steve Imhoff says he was impressed by all three firms."They’ve all helped public institutions colleges and/or school districts hire a whole lot of superintendents so they’ve got the experience and we’re going to use that experience from one of these firms," he says, adding that there are several key goals he wants the new superintendent to achieve. "Raise achievement, close gaps, and for I think all of us maintain diversity in our schools. For me that’s very, very important. That will help do the other two things," he says.The board will select a firm at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday. The Jefferson County Teachers Association and the local NAACP have asked the board to reconsider its decision to replace Berman.