By MADDY VITALE
The Ocean City Board of Education will begin interviewing candidates as the search for a new schools superintendent narrows.
Candidates will be interviewed during three special executive session meetings. The first two interviews will be done via Zoom on March 27 and 28, both at 4 p.m., and the third will be conducted on March 31 at 9 a.m. in the Ocean City Free Public Library.
Six members of the Board of Education are on a superintendent search committee. In addition, the board hired Strategic Educational Advantage, or SEA, in the spring upon receiving the notification of former Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor’s retirement. Dr. Tom Baruffi is the interim superintendent.
Board of Education member Jacqueline McAlister sits on the superintendent search committee.
She noted Friday that the board is optimistic about finding a highly qualified new superintendent.
“We are very excited about the quality of applicants for the superintendent,” McAlister said. “There have been applications from numerous states and various experiences, and each person could add something new and innovative to an already excellent district.”
McAlister added that prior to the interviews scheduled for Sunday, “Our search firm, SEA, screened a large number of candidates prior to this round.”
Over the last year, to help determine what qualities were important to stakeholders, SEA held meetings with various groups of parents, teachers, students, union representatives and members of the community in recent months.
In addition, surveys were made available for anyone who wanted to provide input about what they find important for the person who will lead the district schools.
School Business Administrator Tim Kelley said in an email, “The Board of Education continues to move forward with its search for the next Superintendent of Schools for the Ocean City School District.”
He added, “After soliciting input from school and community stakeholders, Strategic Educational Advantage presented a proposed superintendent profile for our district at the January school board meeting. The board is currently in the process of interviewing a strong slate of candidates for the position.”
SEA representatives said during the Jan. 26 meeting that among the important attributes people were looking for when answering the 768 survey responses were as follows: A person who will listen to the concerns of students, parents and staff is at the top of the list of priorities. The stakeholders also would like a superintendent to have expertise and knowledge of curriculum and instruction, believes every student can excel, prioritizes and is able to support a positive school climate were also high on the list.
In addition, a person who encourages growth and achievement in every student, and communicates with parents, students and the community were also major qualities.
