With the upcoming retirement of USD 428 Superintendent Dr. Tom Vernon, the USD 428 Board of Education will officially begin the process of searching for his replacement in November.  Board president Joyce Carter said the Kansas Association of School Boards will announce the vacancy on Nov. 14.  Vernon made his public announcement at the September BOE meeting, and the board at that time voted to use the services of the KASB Leadership Services Field Specialist Gary Sechrist and staff.  
“USD 428 is fortunate that Dr. Vernon gave early notice,” he said.  “This makes Great Bend the first in state to start their search.  That means candidates will have plenty of opportunity to consider Great Bend a great place to be.”
According to Sechrist, the district is conducting a nationwide search, and the announcement will go out on KansasTeachingJobs.com, the KASB and other NASB websites.  It will also be advertised in The Chronicle of Higher Education, and a tri-fold brochure will be sent to superintendents and colleges that train them.  
Three weeks later, on Nov. 25, Sechrist and consultant Dr. Max Heim will conduct a series of characteristics sessions with focus groups made up of patrons, teachers and staff members. These sessions will allow the search committee to determine what the public and the administration desires in a new superintendent.  Sechrist will conduct sessions with patrons and teachers during the day, and Heim will present information at a special evening board meeting.  
Carter said the district is considering developing an online survey relating to superintendent characteristics that parents, district employees, and additional patrons can fill out to increase the amount of community input.   
The timeline for the search process is expected to last a few months.  The deadline for applications will be either late December or early January, Sechrist said.  After that, Sechrist, Heim and a neutral party will begin screening candidates and soon after provide the board with three candidates.  At that point, the board will contact candidates and set up interviews.  The new superintendent may be selected as early as late winter, 2014, Sechrist said.