School board reopens its search after Wardrop turns down offer
Garrett explains process to school board
At Monday's meeting, the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voted approval to continue its search through the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) for a Chief School Financial Officer (SCFO) after Kristal Wardrop turned down the contract following a 4-2-1 vote of approval to name her new CSFO last month.
Board Members Sherry Digmon, Kevin Hoomesm Loumeek White and Cindy Jackson voted for Wardrop. Board Members Danny Benjamin and Coleman Wallace voted for Charles Bass. Board Member Mike Edwards issued a 'no confidence' vote at the March 21 meeting.
The search began after former CSFO Rochelle Richardson resigned her position previously. Wardrop and Bass were the two applicants the AASB recommended who had applied for the position out of four total applicants.
There to discuss what he considers the boards options, Board Attorney Kirk Garrett told the board he received a letter from Sally Smith with the AASB offering to re-post advertising the position for additional no cost to the board, beyond the contract in place currently.
He suggested one option is to look at the applicants who were not selected by AASB although their experience is minimum. He also spoke with a couple of companies and an individual out of Huntsville, who offered to review candidates, if that's the board's choice.
"Everybody made it very clear to me that there are slim pickings, is the best way to say it," said Garrett. "There are just not that many people out there who are qualified to be CSFOs and if they are, most of them are in private practice."
Garrett said many prefer the private sector, as opposed to potentially being a CSFO. He recommended to continue to allow AASB to help with the search. He did say that if any board members knew anyone they could certainly reach out and reminded board members that the proper protocol is encourage a potential candidate to apply through AASB.
"Collectively, if we can find someone, and they're going to keep helping us look, but we need to help look and try to find whoever we can find who can apply," said Garrett.
Garrett and other board members agreed that filling the position as soon as possible is most important, with Board Member Coleman Wallace describing it as an 'urgent situation'. Garrett said according to the representative at AASB, the posting will be modified to reflect it is an emergency situation, that the position will be open until filled, not just an open-ended position.
The range of salary for the position as posted is $111,771 to $146,226, based on experience.
"If there's someone out there who says I'm not going to do it for less than $150,000, then in order to get that person, if that's the person the board wants, then the board may have to make that decision at the right time," said Garrett.
There was discussion about the fee that AASB charged, which was $5,000, but AASB said there would be no additional cost to the school board for the second part. Superintendent Michele Collier suggested that if AASB can make the post live again, it would be a good idea for all of the board members to have the link as they consider persons they may know to direct the link to. Collier said there are professional organizations that send out position postings in mass emails and suggested 'blasting it' out on social media in their search for a CSFO.
There was more discussion about hiring a person who is familiar with the Harris software system, which is used in some government and school systems. Board members thought the verbiage should reflect experience of Harris software as 'preferred' though not required.
Board member Benjamin made the motion to re-open the post for the CSFO position with the AASB and to reflect verbiage that expresses experience and familiarity with the Harris software system as preferred though not required. Board Member Jackson seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
The board also unanimously approved a contract with Brainspring for Orton-Gillingham Phonics First Level I professional development in the amount of $32,235 to be paid out of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief 3 funds, which will allow more than 21 additional teachers in the district who are trained as a part of the summer literacy program.
