Millcreek School Board launches search for a new school superintendent
Edinboro-based Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 will lead the search for the Millcreek Township School District's next school superintendent.
The Millcreek School Board on Monday unanimously approved a contract with IU5 to conduct the search for a successor to Ian Roberts. Roberts resigned May 9 as Millcreek Township School District superintendent, effective June 30. He will begin a new job as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines, Iowa, in July.
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Intermediate Units are education service agencies created by the state legislature to provide training and other services to public school districts in Pennsylvania. And as the regional Intermediate Unit in northwestern Pennsylvania, IU5 is well acquainted with Millcreek Township School District, its demographics and needs, IU5 Executive Director Brad Whitman told school directors Monday.
"We know this district. We know its strengths, its weaknesses, its opportunities and its challenges," Whitman said. "We're in your community and we have a vested interest in your community."
Whitman formerly taught at Millcreek's Westlake Middle School.
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That regional knowledge was the tipping point in school directors' decision to hire IU5 rather than the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to lead the superintendent search.
"IU5 has a good understanding of our school district and knows so many people in the area that may be interviewed," School Director Janine McClintic said. "I like the fact that they're local."
The IU will search mainly in Pennsylvania and the tristate area, at school directors' request.
"I'm more interested in focusing on someone in our area, someone thoroughly familiar with the Pennsylvania School Code and able to move right into the position and get started," School Director Shirley Winschel said.
Information about the district and its expectations that will be provided to potential candidates was assembled for Millcreek's last superintendent search three years ago and needs very little updating, School Board members said.
That search was conducted nationally by Ray and Associates, a private executive search company, for a fee of $18,500 plus expenses.
The district will pay IU5 $7,000 to conduct the new search. Directors can choose to pay more than that base rate to widen the search beyond the tri-state area.
A wider search could be needed. There is strong competition in the state for top school administrators, Shane Pagnotti, of PSBA, said in outlining the organization's search services in a virtual presentation for school directors Monday.
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"There are about 17 or 18 superintendent vacancies across Pennsylvania," Pagnotti said. "There's a lot of competition out there for talent."
PSBA charges a flat fee of $15,000 for a superintendent search.
Those vacancies will include the Girard School District superintendent when Donna Miller retires from the position at the end of July. IU5, in addition to leading the Millcreek search, is leading the search for Miller's replacement.
Millcreek's search will be easier than it was three years ago, School Director Michael Lindner said.
"Half of this board has been through this," Lindner said. "This time it will be a little easier because we have a little bit better experience. It will not be as much of a learning curve."
Millcreek Township School Board also formally accepted Roberts' resignation as superintendent on Monday.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Millcreek School Board begins its search for new school superintendent
