Board Eyes November As Start Date For Superintendent
The following article by Cristof Traudes appeared in the March 8, 2010 issue of the Downtown Journal:
BOARD EYES NOVEMBER AS START DATE FOR SUPERINTENDENT
The Park Board has adopted a preliminary timeline for its upcoming search for a new superintendent. When commissioners hope to be all done: September.
According to the timeline, included in a request for proposals for search firms sent out in February, the board would like to have its new superintendent begin Nov. 1, days after Minneapolis hosts a major national parks conference. Other deadlines in the timeline include hiring a search firm by the end of this month, holding public input sessions in April and formally opening up the position in May.
Board President John Erwin said the dates aren’t strict — “this is not absolutely fixed,” he said — but they do represent the overall hopes of most commissioners.
It notably doesn’t represent everyone — in particular, Commissioner Jon Olson, who earlier also fought the decision to begin the search for a new superintendent. Olson said he was concerned about having the superintendent begin in the middle of the board’s annual budget-setting period, which usually concludes in December. It would be a very contentious time to arrive, Olson said.
“I think the timeline is just bad,” he said.
Commissioner Carol Kummer, who also voted against opening up a search, said it “would be very, very strange. It might be somewhat cumbersome.”
But others on the board noted that because of the economy, budgets have been in such a constant state of flux that the arrival date has become somewhat of a moot concern.
The board approved the request for proposals 7–1, with Olson voting “no” and Commissioner Bob Fine abstaining.
Unresolved is the board’s intent with current Superintendent Jon Gurban, whose contract expires June 30 and whom some commissioners have discussed keeping on until the search process is complete.