Racine Unified Public Can Weigh in on Superintendent Search

residents will have the chance to weigh in on what qualifications and qualities the new superintendent should have.

A Listening and Linking Session will begin at 6:30 pm today, Nov. 17 at Washington Park High School, 1901 12th Street.

The ideal candidate to fill the position of Superintendent of Racine Unified School District is beginning to take shape. A job description has been approved and RUSD leaders want to hear from the public.

People who attend and wish to speak will have three minutes to address the search committee, but panel members will not take any action or debate the public comments at the meeting.

“This is our chance to listen to the public as far as what they would like to see in the next superintendent’s qualities,” board Vice President Sue Kutz, who also chairs the Superintendent Search Committee, said at a recent meeting.

The school board will select the search firm consultant who will carry out the search by Mon., Dec. 5, and approve the consultant’s contract by Mon., Dec. 12. The board hopes to have a new superintendent appointed by May or June 2012. 

Some highlights of qualities the board included in the superintendent’s job description follow and the full document is attached. What qualities do you think the new leader of Unified should have? Weigh in in the comments section.

• Formal education: Masters Degree in Educational Leadership is a minimum. Doctorate is preferred.
• Experience: Ten years of teaching, school administration and/or central office administration is a minimum.
• Knowledge, skills and abilities:
  • Strong belief in children and their ability to learn
  • Willingness to engage community and stakeholders in a positive, collaborative fashion
  • Working knowledge of best practices in education, operations and fiscal management
  • Management:
    • Provide leadership to move the District forward towards the North Star Vision and the District
    • Provide leadership required to achieve short-term goals and move toward long-term goals
    • Communicate with all stakeholders in the District
    • Accountability: Each October, the board will conduct a formal summative evaluation of the superintendent.