SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH Updates & Recent News

Alma Advisory Group, the professional search firm that the Portland Board of Public Education hired last month to aid in the search for a new superintendent, met with the Board and the Superintendent Search Committee earlier this week. Alma made a presentation as it worked with the Board and the Search Committee to define the scope of the work, the search timeline and community engagement in the search process.

The Superintendent Search Committee was created by the Portland Board of Public Education this fall to spearhead the search for a new superintendent to lead the district after Superintendent Xavier Botana steps down. The Search Committee unanimously recommended on Nov. 22 that Alma Advisory Group was the best firm to aid in the superintendent search. The Board voted on Dec. 6 to contract with that professional search firm, whose work aligns with the central equity goal of the Portland Promise, for the superintendent search.

The Portland Board of Public Education on Oct. 18 approved another community representative to serve on the Superintendent Search Committee. The appointment of Lucy Shulman, a Portland resident who is an adjunct instructor at Portland Adult Education, brings the number of community representatives on the committee to eight. The Board approved the appointment of the seven other community representatives at its Oct. 11 meeting.

At its Oct. 11 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education voted unanimously to pass a high school alignment resolution, which commits the district to taking a closer look at ensuring consistent programming and opportunities for students across all three high schools. The Board also voted to appoint seven community members to the Superintendent Search Committee and agreed to consider at its Oct. 18 meeting the appointment of an eighth member representing Portland Adult Education.

The Board of Public Education on Sept. 6 approved a resolution to recruit members for the Superintendent Search Committee. Made up of five Board members and seven community members, the committee will lead the superintendent search process. The Board tasked  its Appointments Committee with recruiting and vetting candidates to serve as the seven community members.