news-record.com

GREENSBORO Now that Superintendent Terry Grier has accepted a new job in San Diego, the Guilford County school board is about to embark on the task of finding his replacement.


Board members have yet to map out how they will go about their superintendent search. But at least one thing is certain: they'll be seeking your input.


"We will work with the community and our staff in the Guilford County schools so that we involve all citizens in the process of finding a leader for the next chapter," school board Chairman Alan Duncan said.


Grier officially starts his new job with the San Diego Unified School District July 1, giving the Guilford County school board less than six months to find his successor.


In the next few weeks, board members will establish a strategy for finding their next superintendent.


When the board hired Grier, it employed a Chicago-based search firm, one of the leading consultants of that kind in the nation.


For the previous superintendent, Jerry Weast, the board hired a consultant to assist in the hiring process.


The latter process may be less pricey the consultants who recruited Grier cost the district $35,000 plus expenses but it relies on the board to do all the legwork.


"Neither one was easy because everyone in this community has an opinion," said Anita Sharpe, who was a board member during the previous two superintendent searches.


Duncan said the board will have to consider which route to take.


No matter how they go about finding their new leader, school board members said first they need to know what to look for.


Board members said this weekend that they expect to reach out to the community to help them identify traits they want in the next superintendent.


In 1999, when the school board spent several months searching for Grier, it held public forums to find those answers.


The board will likely find ample opinion again. Parents, teachers, and other school observers have already begun daydreaming about the next Guilford County schools leader.


Several said they want a leader who can have a good working relationship with parents and other community members.


"I would like to make certain we have a leader who is willing to work with the community," said Margaret Arbuckle, head of the Guilford Education Alliance.


Others emphasized that a new superintendent should also be able to work closely with teachers and principals.


"The top priority for me is someone who is collaborative in their leadership and who is strong at bringing all voices to the table," said Terrina Picarello, a recent president of the Guilford County Council of PTAs.


"Our district is so big, if you don't have a good relationship with the people on the ground, you will not be able to make good administrative decisions."


Other county residents were looking for a superintendent who can tackle the big issues: failing grades at the middle and high school levels and school violence.


"We want somebody who is not going to worry about being tough on discipline," said middle school teacher Pam Zanni.


School board members have begun thinking about what they want, too. School board member Garth Hebert said they first need to find someone who admits there are problems, then finds a way to fix them.


"I want to find someone who can help heal the morale issues we have," school board member Darlene Garrett said.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com