Cedar Falls School Board Takes First Steps in Search for a New Superintendent

After a tumultuous, emotional week, the Cedar Falls School Board took the first steps toward finding a new superintendent at a work session Tuesday night.

Last week Superintendent Mike Wells first resigned, then withdrew his resignation and then resigned again when it became clear the board meant to fire him. His resignation is effective when his one-year contract expires at the end of June.

This will be the second superintendent search the board has taken on in as many years. Wells replaced David Stoakes, who retired at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

With such an abrupt dismissal of the man they hired less than a year ago, the board discussed what went well in the last search process and what went wrong.

There seemed to be a consensus that hiring an outside search firm, which the board did for the first time when it hired Wells, was a good idea. They decided to speak with several search firms before making any decisions.

An outside search firm can help identify and contact potential job candidates, as well as help the board navigate the decision-making process.

Board members said that process may need to be adjusted this time around. When Wells was hired, the board interviewed the top five candidates in one week.

"As an outside observer watching the process you could just kind of see the energy change over the course of the week," board secretary Doug Nefzger said. "Five candidates in five days and then meeting on Saturday to try to narrow that down to one - it's just draining."

Cedar Falls Community School District human resources director Adrian Talbot suggested bringing in a neutral, outside party as a skilled facilitator for when the board was making its final decision.

Board member Susan Lantz said she wanted more extensive reference checks for candidates.

"I don’t want to be in this same position, ever," she said.

The board also considered their tight timeline and discussed the possibility of having an interim superintendent after Wells leaves, though they made no decision on the matter.

"The last thing that all of us want to do is feel like we need to be expeditious and do this and not do our due diligence, not do the best that we possibly can to get the right candidate in here," board member Jenny Leeper said.

Several board members said the board would also need to work to rebuild community trust.

"It's pretty raw out there right now, as far as the public is concerned," board member Jim Brown said.

Wells' resignation came as a shock to the wider Cedar Falls population, many of whom showed up in support of Wells at the meeting where five of the seven board members said they would vote not to renew his contract. About 100 parents, teachers and community members gave Wells a standing ovation when he entered the room.

As for what Wells did wrong, board members have not said. His performance reviews that led up to last week are private under Iowa law, since they were held in closed sessions. Board members talked about the need to better communicate that with the public.

"There’s an impression of a lack of communication," Leeper said. "I want us to do everything we can to share as much as we can so that people don’t think we’re turning a deaf ear."

The board discussed potentially hiring an outside consultant or public relations professional to help craft their message.

"This is not a place we’ve come to easily," Lantz said, describing what she wanted people to understand. "These weren’t rash decisions."

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Read more:  

Wells Releases 'Talking Points' to Cedar Falls School Board Before His Resignation: 'You Knew What You Were Getting'

'I Have Not Been Perfect': Resignation Letter from Cedar Falls Superintendent Mike Wells