MADISON TOWNSHIP – The search is on for the next superintendent of Madison Local Schools, with help from the Madison community.
The Madison Board of Education has partnered with Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center to create a survey with the purpose of gathering input from the Madison Schools staff and community regarding their superintendent search.
The survey officially went live on March 2. To complete the survey, visit the Madison Local Schools website at www.mlsd.net. Those interested may pick up a hard copy survey from the Madison Board of Education office, and completed surveys can be returned to the Madison Board of Education office or Mid-Ohio.
Board President Jeff Meyers said the Madison Local Schools district belongs to the public, and therefore the public’s opinion on a new superintendent is highly valued.
“The public tells us how they want their schools run,” Meyers said. “When you compare a school district like Madison to a school district like New Albany where they pay very high taxes and they have very high expectations in return, in Madison we don’t pay exorbitant taxes so we live within what the community tells us they want.
“Our superintendent candidate will have to understand that, and be able to operate that way.”
The coming departure of Madison Superintendent Lee Kaple necessitates the search for his replacement. Kaple is retiring on July 31 after 43 years as an educator, eight of those years as Madison’s superintendent.
Meyers said the categories of the survey include effective habits of communication and collaboration, policies and governance, instruction and student achievement, resources, and leadership. Under each category are six to eight example uses of those qualities, with the survey asking the taker to rate these examples on their importance.
“For example, developing a shared vision for Madison, modeling and using data to make informed decisions, and engaging stakeholders regarding district goals as part of the continuous improvement cycle,” Meyers explained.
The survey was created with the assistance of Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, of which Madison is a member. Mid-Ohio’s survey design was chosen over a different presentation by the Ohio School Board Association.
The Madison Board of Education had the opportunity to provide feedback and change a few elements of the survey, customizing the questions to fit the needs of the district. Meyers said designing the survey was about finding just the right fit for district superintendent.
“Every school district is a little different, and has its own personality,” he said. “You have to match the school district to each candidate.”
Meyers said the board will also take into consideration the current state of the district, and their plans for the future when picking a new superintendent. For example, while building a new school building might have been a priority a few years ago, the same cannot be said for Madison’s immediate future.
“We have made such tremendous improvements in our state report card scores and we must continue that,” Meyers said. “Also we’re financially stable, so we need someone that will continue that financial stability.”
The survey will be available to the public until March 10, with the official job posting for Madison’s superintendent going live on March 15. Meyers said the board plans to complete the final round of interviews by the end of April, with the goal of making a final hire in May.
“We have to have someone in by August 1,” Meyers said. “Lee is done on July 31 and we would like someone to come in and work with Lee for a week or two to get used to the buildings and the administrators.”
