The Sun Prairie Area School District School Board announced on Mar. 31 that it will interview eight candidates next week as part of its ongoing search for a new superintendent.
The process is significant for the district, which received 25 applications for the position. The first round of interviews is scheduled to take place in closed session on April 7 and April 9.
After these initial interviews, up to three finalists will be selected. These finalists are set to participate in a “Day in the District” event on April 13, where they will tour schools and meet with staff, students, families, and community members. Additional meetings and tours are planned for the morning of April 14. The final round of public interviews with the School Board will begin at 6 p.m. on April 14 at Central Heights Auditorium; these interviews will also be livestreamed.
“We hope people will attend the Day in the District session specific to them on April 13,” Interim Communications & Engagement Director Perry Hibner said. “There will be an opportunity for individuals who attend to offer feedback that will be shared with the School Board before the final interviews the next night. We very much want to hear from our community.”
Hibner also clarified that while feedback from attendees during Day in the District sessions is encouraged, there will not be an opportunity for public input during or after finalist interviews with the board on April 14.
The search firm HYA has been assisting with this process and provided an update during a closed session meeting attended by associate Scott Winch and vice president Mike Richie via conference call. The selection process began in February when nearly 1,300 individuals completed an anonymous online survey about desired qualities in a superintendent; results were shared by HYA senior associate Pat Neudecker at a March board meeting. More than sixty focus groups were also held over several days, drawing participation from more than one hundred thirty people.
