School Board seeks public input on Superintendent search: Community meetings scheduled for January 16, 17, and 18

The Seattle School Board will hold a series of meetings on January 16, 17, and 18 to gather public input for the superintendent search process. Community members will be asked to discuss the characteristics and qualities they want in Seattle Public Schools' next school chief.

Meetings will also be held with representatives of community associations and organizations; with employees of Seattle Public Schools; and with school leaders and the district's senior leadership team.

Ray & Associates, the consulting firm hired to conduct a nationwide search to replace outgoing Seattle School District Superintendent Raj Manhas, will facilitate the meetings.

Last October, Manhas announced he would leave the district when his three-year contract expires this summer.

At each meeting, Ray & Associates will provide an overview of the recruitment process and ask attendees for their opinion about the important qualities, skills, and background for the next superintendent.

In addition, each participant will be asked to identify what they consider to be the "top 10" desired qualities for a superintendent, selected from a list of 32 characteristics developed by the consulting firm.

The Board will use the information to finalize a Superintendent profile.

Individuals and/or groups who cannot attend the meetings can also share their comments with School Board members by emailing the board at: superintendentsearch@seattleschools.org, or by calling the School Board office at 206-252-0040.

Written comments may also be mailed to the Board Office, MS 11-010, PO Box 34165, Seattle, WA, 98124-1165. For comments to be included in profile development, they must be received, or postmarked, by Thursday, January 18, 2007.

Schedule of General Community Meetings

Tuesday, Jan. 16--McClure Middle School Lunchroom and Eckstein Middle School Lunchroom (Amharic, Chinese, Spanish, Tigrigna*), both at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 17--9 a.m. at the Stanford Center and 7 p.m. at Madison Middle School Lunchroom (Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese*) and Aki Kurose Middle School Lunchroom (Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese*).

Thursday, Jan. 18--6 p.m. Hamilton Middle School Lunchroom (Spanish*); 8 p.m. Whitman Middle School Library and the Washington Middle School Lunchroom (Chinese, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese*).

*Translators for the specified languages will be available at this meeting.

Schedule of Meetings for Associations, Community Organizations

and Seattle Public Schools' Employees

Tuesday, Jan. 16--2 p.m., Stanford Center for associations, community organization representatives (by invitation); 3 p.m. at the Stanford Center for school leaders; 4:15 p.m. at Mercer Middle School Lunchroom for employees; 8 p.m. at the Stanford Center for associations, community organization representatives (by invitation).

Thursday, Jan. 18--1:30 p.m. at the Stanford Center for district senior leadership.