Search for New Muskego School Superintendent Brings Public Into the Mix

With the impending departure of Muskego-Norway School Superintendent Joe Schroeder at the end of June 2012, the search is on to find someone to succeed him. Schroeder will be taking a position at the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators as its associate executive director.

Representatives from a search firm hired by the school board to find a replacement were on hand at Monday night, and spent much of the day on Tuesday meeting with civic leaders to get to know the city and what characteristics will define the perfect candidate.

Ted Blaesing, a senior associate with Hazard, Young and Attea, a firm which specializes in executive and upper-level administrative searches, said the process helps them to develop a profile of the right candidate.

"It was obvious that the people who spoke are very proud of their schools, and in particular student achievement," he said. "We gather from this discussion what the desired attributes are for a candidate."

Blaesing said there is a momentum many felt was apparent in the schools toward improvement in academics, and in the district's focus on developing the 'whole student' through co-curricular activities. "They want to protect this, continue it and hope to see that reflected in the next superintendent."

About 18 people were in attendance Monday night to offer feedback on a new superintendent, the present state of the district and the performance of the school board, Blaesing said. Despite two failed referenda on school improvements, he said the discussion was 'civil' with many realizing that the future will require something to be done to address the facilities' issues that exist.

"People also were very complimentary on the school board as a whole, stating that they have been very open and willing to listen" to the public on the issues.

An online survey, which has been extended to 5 p.m. March 6, also will offer the public a chance to weigh in on the search. A Profile Report will be formally presented to the school board on March 12, which will include the results from this survey as well as the in-person meetings.

Blaesing said they "absolutely will consider reaching out to anyone who matches the criteria that may not necessarily be in an active search for a new position. We want to talk to them, and perhaps put it out there as an opportunity they may not have considered."