Should Cedar Falls Get a Guarantee with Next Superintendent?

The search firm Cedar Falls School District hires to help find the next superintendent could come with a perk - a guarantee that their candidate will last.

School Board President Deon Senchina said some of the six search firms she's looked at in the past week offer a guarantee that if the candidate doesn't work out - as is the current case with the resignation of first-year Superintendent Mike Wells - they will conduct a new search for free.

"The fact they are offering it means they are confident in their services, but if you have to use it, you may not want to use that search firm again," Senchina said.

Senchina doesn't see the offer as a deal changer.

The school board held its first regular board meeting Monday evening since a bizarre sequence of events that signaled the end of the Wells regime. Within 72 hours, Wells announced he was resigning, retracted it saying he had full support and two-days later resigned officially (as of the end of the school year) in the face off getting his contract terminated.

The board meeting included an update on the superintendent search on the agenda.

Senchina said the update will include details about the six search firms. She feels the expertise of a firm is necessary in finding such a critical position, but guarantees are not at the top of her wish list as she vets the search firms.

"I don't know that would be the sole reason we hired someone," she said.

One consideration that may help possible firms is their willingness to be flexible. Senchina said she'd like to see a firm that is willing to make adjustments to the search if the search committee feels it's necessary.

When asked how the board might use this current experience with Wells to help the district find a better fit, Senchina said many stakeholders are involved in choosing a superintendent, not just the school board.

Details have not been forthcoming about Wells' departure, and Senchina did not shed any new light.