The Mercer Island School Board is actively looking for a new superintendent for our district. Hiring the superintendent is the most important job the board can undertake. The superintendent is the CEO of the school district, responsible for creating and delivering our district’s vision, hiring our staff, operating our facilities and ensuring the world-class outcomes we’ve come to expect for our students.

On Jan. 19, Dr. Plano announced he would retire on June 30 and the board began its search for a new superintendent by first looking internally. There is a high degree of stability when hiring an insider who is known, knows the community and cares about the district. Unfortunately, after conducting a seven-week internal process, it was clear that timing and opportunity were not right for an internal hire of a superintendent.

The board then began pursuing an external search for a superintendent. Multiple search firms were interviewed and one was unanimously selected. We are confident their expertise and assistance will result in an effective national, as well as regional and local search for a superintendent. Through this effort, the board was encouraged to seek out a full-time superintendent now versus later in the fall. We have every reason to believe that a full-time superintendent of stellar credentials will be found. There are many critical decisions to be made in the next year, made more difficult in the face of uncertain state funding. These prominently include balancing our budget, renegotiating our teacher contracts, mentoring staff and advancing our district’s vision. Finding a full-time superintendent who will make these decisions and guide us through the consequences with care and thoughtfulness over the longterm is very important to the board.

The search firm helped the board determine the qualifications and characteristics we desired in a superintendent. We have reached out to thousands of citizens, parents, community leaders and organizations, teachers, staff and students via email and seven in-person meetings to shape the leadership characteristics for inclusion in the job recruiting flyer. Beyond the job requirements, the flyer highlights our high performing schools that rank in the top 1 percent nationally, our engaged parent and volunteer community, and the high quality of life in the Pacific Northwest.

The final job description was approved during the board’s regular May 11 meeting and advertisement, recruiting and candidate outreach continue through June 6.

Starting June 13, the board will privately evaluate and interview the applicants to produce a set of finalists who will be shared with the community during the week of June 26. Community input, additional interviews and board deliberations will determine the final superintendent. In the event a suitable superintendent is not found, the board will select an interim superintendent with the assistance of our search firm. We would then attempt another search in the fall at no additional cost.

The board is excited to be on this journey and we look forward to interacting with the community and stakeholders to find the best superintendent for the Mercer Island School District. Mercer Island is an incredibly compelling district with our strong community, our shared values toward education, thriving students and a brilliant and highly functioning group of teachers and staff. The board wishes to express our gratitude to the community for their email, public input, participation and support during this process.

Please follow new developments by connecting with us (board@mercerislandschools.org) and visiting our webpage: mercerislandschools.org/superintendentsearch.

The Mercer Island School Board includes David D’Souza, Tracy Drinkwater, Adair Dingle, Dave Myerson and Ralph Jorgenson.