ROGERS -- Academic standards, athletics and leadership style were among the issues that came up Tuesday during a community meeting on the School District's superintendent search.
Bill Newman and Brenda Dietrich, representatives of the firm Ray and Associates, facilitated the meeting, which drew about a dozen people to the Rogers High School auditorium.
Schedule
The following is a complete schedule of the remaining stakeholder meetings the Rogers School District is holding to collect input on the superintendent search.
Today
• 7:45 to 8:30 a.m.: Rogers secondary principals, Rogers School District Administration Building board room, 500 W. Walnut St.
• 9 to 9:45 a.m.: Rogers schools central office personnel, Administration Building board room
• 10 to 10:45 a.m.: Rogers schools central office personnel, Administration Building board room
• Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Public Education Foundation and Parents and Administrators Coming Together (PACT), Professional Development Center, 2922 S. First St.
• 2 to 2:45 p.m.: Rogers High School student senate, Rogers High School lecture hall
• 4 to 4:45 p.m.: School District support staff (such as custodians, food service, bus drivers), Administration Building board room
Thursday
• 8 to 8:45 a.m.: Elementary school principals, Administration Building board room
• 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.: Heritage High School student council, Heritage High School, Room B107
• 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.: Secondary assistant principals, Administration Building board room
• 12:15 to 1 p.m.: Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce board members and Rogers and Lowell mayors, Chamber Baggett-Trammel Room, 317 W. Walnut
• 2 to 2:45 p.m.: Elementary assistant principals, Administration Building board room
• 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Teachers from the Heritage High School feeder pattern, Heritage High School auditorium
• 6 to 7 p.m.: Community meeting, Heritage High School auditorium, 1114 S. Fifth St.
The School Board hired Ray and Associates this month to assist in the district's search. Tuesday's meeting was one of 16 meetings the firm is holding this week to solicit feedback from the public and specific stakeholder groups on characteristics they'd like to see in their district's next leader.
"We asked the board, 'Do you want us to involve the public in this decision?' The board was emphatic, 'Yes, we do,'" Newman said.
Input collected from the meetings and online surveys will be presented to the board next week and be used to develop a set of characteristics the board seeks in its next superintendent. A link to the survey can be found on the district's website, RogersSchools.net.
Billie Hankins, a Rogers High graduate who also worked many years in the district, was among those at Tuesday's meeting. She said she'd prefer a superintendent who either has a doctorate or is pursuing one. She also asked internal candidates not be overlooked.
"We have very good administrators," Hankins said.
David Kimball, the father of a Rogers eighth-grader and three Rogers graduates, said he'd like to see someone who's not afraid to make decisions. He also expressed concern about what he perceives as declining academic rigor, adding his son has not had to study for a single test this year.
Kimball said he'd prefer to hire someone from outside the district.
"I'm afraid if we go internal, we'll get more of the same," he said.
Josh MacNeel, father of two Rogers students, said the district has to have a place the smartest kids can go to feel challenged.
"I also feel like athletics has been so de-emphasized," MacNeel said.
MacNeel later added he's very proud his kids are enrolled in the district.
"We love this place," he said. "Let's get a humble (superintendent) in here who will listen and cultivate the love of these schools."
Superintendent Janie Darr, who's been superintendent since 1999, announced last month her intention to retire at the end of June. There was some difference of opinion on the importance of finding someone who will make that kind of commitment to the district.
Hankins said she'd like to see someone who will stick around for at least a decade. MacNeel, however, said he wouldn't necessarily care if Darr's successor stays fewer than five years.
"Great leaders often get recruited to the next deal," MacNeel said. "The good ones go. I don't want a legacy builder."
The discussion also touched on leadership style. Does Rogers want someone who decides things singlehandedly or in a collaborative fashion?
Lance Arbuckle, principal of Rogers New Technology High School, said leadership style should depend on what kind of group the person is dealing with and under what circumstances. The next superintendent should be comfortable exercising leadership in a variety of ways, he said.
Before the community meeting, Newman and Dietrich held two other meetings Tuesday: one with representatives of the higher education community, and one intended for teachers.
Mel Ahart, principal of Kirksey Middle School, was one of three people who attended the meeting for teachers.
Ahart said she hopes the board finds someone with energy and personality. She added she hopes the board finds someone who appreciates the unique needs of middle schools.
"Rogers is one of the few school districts that has done middle schools right," Ahart said.
She said Darr has always made her feel welcome to talk to her about school issues. Superintendent candidates should possess that same ability and willingness to listen, Ahart said.
Ray and Associates will collect applications for the superintendent's job until March 4. The board intends to choose a candidate by mid-April.
NW News on 01/27/2016