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MILL HALL -- The Keystone Central School District Board of Directors unanimously approved hiring a consulting firm to conduct the search for its next superintendent.
During its voting session last week, Board President Elisabeth Lynch said the board heard presentations during an executive session one day prior from proposed consultants -- which included Templeton Advantage and BLaST Intermediate Unit 17.
Though Dr. Christina Steinbacher-Reed, executive director for BLaST IU17, was unable to attend Thursday's voting session, Tom Templeton, founder and creative director of Templeton Advantage, spoke briefly about the presentations and what his firm can offer the district.
Templeton said the executive session went well and involved discussions about how candidates would be procured, the process to develop a job description, overall goals, contracts and more.
"We talked extensively around what the board's expectations would be and, ultimately, what the systemic process would be to find the right leader for Keystone Central," he said.
This process would include joint work between Templeton and Steinbacher-Reed, he said.
"I'm going to be the prime contractor and Christina will be the sub-contractor on this," he said. "She's doing a lot of the backroom work, managing the logistics around the candidates, background checks, talking strategically with me about various aspects of the search."
He added he would be the one engaging with the board and staff on-site, working directly with candidates to schedule interviews and other aspects.
"My work will be really engaging with candidates, but more importantly engaging with all of you throughout the process," he said. "This is a lot more than finding the next superintendent of these schools. This is really about establishing the foundation for the future of the organization and what that leadership ethos and philosophy is going to look like with a new superintendent."
He added Steinbacher-Reed will offer a regional perspective that will be valuable in this approach.
"Christina understands your region. If I had to put it in (Human Resources) terms as it relates to this process, she may be a specialist on her regions and I'm a generalist as it relates to the industry," Templeton explained. "Together, as much as I know a lot about the state of Pennsylvania, she's embedded a little more in your region."
"She brings a little bit more of that color commentary on the culture of your district. I bring more of that systemic, strategic approach that I've seen having worked with other districts," he concluded.
Interim-Superintendent Dr. Alan Lonoconus asked how quickly Templeton would be able to move on this search if the board approved an agreement.
"I would be taking the beginning part of next week to start to put together the documents on my end. I'm thinking July 27 I'm back on sight and we're getting this thing moving," he said.
Following board discussion, Board member Chris Scaff motioned to approve the agreement, which costs $15,000 additional expenses for travel and printing, with Templeton Advantage.
The motion was seconded by Board member Roger Kshir and approved unanimously by the board.