Columbus City Schools to begin accepting applications for new superintendent

The Columbus City Schools Board of Education will begin accepting applications for its future superintendent next Monday as the district tries to fill the spot before the next school year.

Information for candidates on how to apply for the chief job in the state's largest district with about 47,000 students will be available on the Board of Education’s search website, on March 27.  Applications will be submitted directly to the search firm selected to assist with process, Ray & Associates.

In early May, the Board of Education plans to review applications, select semi-finalists, and complete the first round of interviews, according to a release. Finalists will be announced in mid-May, followed by the final round of interviews.

Board President Jennifer Adair previously said the board wants the job filled by the 2023-24 school year.

Last month, the board selected  Ray & Associates, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based firm to assist the board in searching for a new leader after outgoing Superintendent Talisa Dixon announced in December that she would be retiring at the end of the academic year. The board also selected Columbus-based advertising agency Fahlgren Mortine to assist with public relations work during the superintendent search.

In January, the board engaged with the Columbus-based law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister to assist with identifying firms and serving as a liaison for the district. The board allocated up to $250,000 in the contract, which includes the cost of the search, legal and communications firms.

The Board of Education will solicit community input using focus groups and surveys, hoping to receive input about what community members think about the role of the next superintendent and the qualities that the ideal candidate should possess. 

Read more: Community stakeholders looking for 'fresh ideas' in next CCS superintendent

Community members will be able to track input, the timeline for the search and other resources at ccsleadershipsearch.com.

Who's the current interim superintendent?

Angela Chapman took over as the district's interim superintendent on Jan. 1. Dixon remains on with the district as an "educational administrator" to support and assist with the transition of leadership for the remainder of the current school year. The board’s goal is to have a new superintendent for the 2023-24 school year.

Chapman was brought into the administration by Dixon in 2019 and until recently had been the chief transformation and leadership officer in Columbus City Schools.

Chapman's current salary is $157,874.68. In her former role, Chapman had oversight of many of the district's administrators and academic leaders, such as principals and regional area superintendents. The office also oversees school improvement and school leader recruitment, selection and development.

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Cbehrens@dispatch.com