Consultant unveils Marble Falls ISD superintendent search criteria

CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — A search for a new superintendent for Marble Falls Independent School District has generated “interest” for the position to be vacated this summer, officials say.

On May 8, the Sharyland ISD board of trustees unanimously approved hiring MFISD Superintendent Dr. Rob O’Connor to lead its schools, leaving an upcoming opening in the local district.

O’Connor is expected to begin at Sharyland in South Texas in early July.

Marble Falls school board members hired the firm of Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, PC, utilizing consultant Gary Patterson to handle the search for the next lead administrator.

“I’m very excited about the level of interest already (after) the job had been posted just three or four days,” Patterson said.

The job will post through June 10. The first round of interviews is scheduled for June 17 and 22.

The second round is expected in late June or early July with the possibility of a final candidate by mid-July.

A 21-day state-mandated waiting period would follow before a final candidate would be offered the position.

The salary range plus benefits is open-ended, Patterson said; however O’Connor was paid about $170,000 per year plus benefits.

“It’s safe to assume there’s a range somewhere around that, but that’s a board decision at the time that they select a final candidate,” he said.

Firm representatives have scheduled two community forums — May 19 and 20 —  for input on traits staff and residents want in their new superintendent.

MFISD staff are scheduled to attend 3:30-5 p.m. both days in the MFISD central office Community Room, 1800 Colt Circle. Community members and parents are invited 6-7:30 p.m. both days at the same location.

“At the end of the meetings, I’ll have information from staff and the community. I have information from the board already,” said Patterson, a former Texas public schools superintendent for 21 years. “We’ll take all that information, hopefully, build a profile that will be consistent with what the community, staff and board are looking for in the next superintendent.”

Also, through May 18, the public can access a Superintendent Qualities and Qualifications Survey available online at www.marblefallsisd.org.

O’Connor, who had been with the school district nearly five years, is expected to start his job at Sharyland ISD on July 6.

That district serves the communities of Edinburg, McAllen and Mission.

There is no word yet on the potential for an interim in the event the board does not agree on a new superintendent by the start of the 2015-16 school year.

“It’s under consideration by the board, but there’s been no serious discussion with us about (an interim),” Patterson said. “It’s conceivable that the person could be on board by the start of school, but it doesn’t have to be.

“The board has made it clear they don’t want to rush through a process with a candidate just to get them here,” he added.

connie@thepicayune.com