PRESS RELEASE FOR JANUARY 31, 2019
The Fairbanks Board of Education has been conducting a superintendent search since September 2018. The Board received the assistance in the process from K-12 Business Consulting, Inc. – a superintendent search firm in Ohio made up of former superintendents and treasurers from across the state.
After developing a superintendent profile that was based on input received during seven staff/community focus group sessions and from survey responses from parents, teachers, community members, elected officials, administrators, support staff members and students, the Board reviewed the credentials of 30 applicants, many of whom were recruited. The Board has selected the eight semi-finalists based on the information related to information in the Superintendent Search Profile (located on the district web site) and the applications. These interviews occurred over two evenings, January 29 and 30, 2019 during a special Board meeting held in Executive Session. The quality of the candidates who applied for the position made it a challenging decision to select those eight candidates according to the Board of Education.
The Fairbanks Local Schools Board of Education selected 3 finalists. Adham Schirg who is currently Principal of Worthington Academy and Phoenix Middle School in Worthington City Schools; Justin Ufferman who currently Assistant Principal at Hilliard Bradly High School in Hilliard City Schools and Zach Howard who is currently an Assistant Superintendent at Pickerington City Schools.
The Board of Education has invited 25 citizens who represent the community and 10 district employees to the “Meet and Greet” sessions to be held on February 5th at the high school. The “Meet and Greet” Committee will have the opportunity to meet the final three candidates and ask each candidate questions during the “Meet and Greet” sessions. The Committee will provide input to the Board of Education through K12 Business Consulting, Inc., the company assisting in the search process.
Following the “Meet and Greet” Committee session each candidate will present a 30-minute overview to the Board of Education in Executive Session and a question and answer session by the Board of Education members will follow. The successful candidate will be selected that evening or the next day. The official announcement of the new superintendent will occur during the regular Board of Education meeting on February 25th at the Media Center in the high school. There will be a “Welcome Reception” for the new superintendent and his family after the Board votes on the superintendent’s contract on February 25th. Anyone is welcome to attend the Board of Education meeting and the “Welcome Reception” to meet the new superintendent that evening.
The Board of Education would like to thank all the participants in the focus groups in September and those who sent in surveys to contribute to the Superintendent Search Profile that drove the focus of the search. They would also like to thank the 35 members of the “Meet and Greet” Committee in advance for their important work.