Author Archives: FactChecker

Update From Superintendent Search Liaison Representatives

Posted on March 20, 2015 | 1 comment

Rick Callihan, District 1 Rep, Owner/CEO AmeriGlo

The liasion group has met twice to discuss the process of hiring a new superintendent. The process is now in the recruiting and screening stage, with an April 10 application deadline. Our group will meet again in late April to narrow the field, and present these candidates to the board.
 
Al Tiede, At Large Rep, Owner/CEO Horizon Windows & Doors

As of March 13th, PROACT, the search company enlisted by DCSD for the Superintendent search, had received over 100 inquiries and in excess of 60 official applications. The application deadline for all candidates is April 10.
The Community Liaison Group has met twice to become familiarized with the process and timelines.
Next steps: The top 25 candidates will be presented to the Community Liaison Group on April 23, 2015. Following that meeting the top 8-12 candidates will be presented to the School Board. The remaining steps will include finalist interviews, and deliberation and selection of the new Superintendent by the School Board .
Timeline

Marketing and Recruiting: Based on final position profile/job description

  • Local/state regional/national newspapers
  • Other education publications and websites
  • E-mails, letters, calls, and face to face visits to referral sources and potential candidates
 March 2, 2015
Requested application due date. April 10, 2015
Pre-screen, screen and interview applicants using position profile/job description. February & March, 2015
Present confidential candidate materials to liaison group for review and determination of those semi finalists to interview. This will include top 20 candidates.Proact will then submit top candidates, as per the firm and liaison group, for consideration. April, 2015
Full Board conduct first round interviews. (Proact On Site) Week of April 13
Determine finalists and conduct comprehensive background checks Week of April 20
Full Board Interviews with finalists, Community Engagement Liaison Committee interviews, public interviews (Proact On Site) Early May, 2015
Name new Superintendent; negotiate contract May, 2015

1 Comment

Posted in Superintendent Search

Online School Choice Registration

Posted on February 20, 2015 | 9 comments

Opening day of DCSD school choice online registration last week was an EPIC FAIL. The Superintendent apologized for any inconvenience or delay. The DeKalb Schools technology team worked night and day to correct the problem. On Monday, E-Portal was taken offline for maintenance and all the fixes installed. Unfortunately, when the switch was flipped back on, things were worse than ever.
Once again, the technology team has been working night and day to fix the problems.  Factchecker editors hear that DCSD is cleaning up the data and everything will be working like it should be by Monday.
So far the intel regarding data cleanup shows some progress.  Postings on Facebook include details like this from a parent who had problems and then saw a fix:
Wednesday 2/18 @ 4:45pm –  “All four of our kids have been removed from our profile, and it won’t let me into the form to add students. Good times!”
Thursday 2/19 @ 11:57am –  “With all the swirl surrounding the DCSD ePortal, I thought it was only fair that I share a positive story. Just got a call out of the blue from a lovely woman who said my account had been cleaned up, explained the reason for the problem, and how she fixed it. I just went into our account, and, VOILA!!, it was as she said. ”
You have until the end of next week (2/27) to register for school choice.  Check back periodically and by Monday E-Portal should work as expected.  If it isn’t working as expected by Monday, abandon all hope (ok, maybe that’s melodramatic) and register manually at the William Bradley Bryant Center.  People who have already registered manually tell me there are currently no lines.
Update:
Thursday 2/19 @ 10:52am – “it took an hour and a half, but I was able to get her registered at the Bryant Center. The staff was very nice and helpful. I just don’t think that all parents have the time to go there and wait in the line.”

9 Comments

Posted in School Choice