By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board voted to task Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson with the search for a new leader to replace former Superintendent Darwin Stiffler, who was voted from his position by the governing board at a public meeting Dec. 7.

The board chose McPherson & Jacobson over finalist Arizona School Boards Association, by a 4-0 vote with governing board member David Sandoval abstaining.

Mr. Sandoval initially moved to appoint ASBA as the search firm, which was seconded by governing board member Kathy Knecht. Howerver the motion failed 2-3.

PUSD spokeswoman Danielle  Airey said now that the firm has been selected, a timeline will be formed and the board is hoping to have a new superintendent approved by July 1.

Cost for McPherson & Jacobson is $29,900 but not to exceed $36,500 for added expenses. Cost for Arizona School Boards Association is $28,000, with possible additional costs, according to a document.

President Monica Ceja Martinez said although the team that will be assigned to the district has not yet been determined, it came down to which company is going to add the most value through process and candidate search.

The district used ASBA in the search that landed Mr. Stiffler in PUSD which means the district would be essentially paying ASBA twice to search for one superintendent, she said.

“In my mind, I am concerned with ASBA getting the same results and trying something new,” Ms. Ceja Martinez said. “So I am willing to spend few thousand dollars more for longevity in a superintendent search.”

McPherson & Jacobson most recently  conducted the search for Dysart Unified School District’s newest superintendent Quinn Kellis, who was appointed by their governing board in December.

National Recruiter Steve Joel led the the Dysart search and will lead the PUSD search. Mr. Joel touted the firm’s range of contacts, vetting process and personal touch, as well as its retention and longevity rate, which is between five and 10 years, he said.

McPherson & Jacobson also produces essentially a report card including how internal and external stakeholders are viewing the district. It also includes the critical priorities by which the next superintendent will be held accountable, he said.

“Boards have taken that information and become energized and used it for strategic planning and developing priorities,” he said. “But more importantly, when the superintendent has been on the job for 30 days, that is the information you and your superintendent will use to create the superintendent’s first-year performance objectives. And that is why our superintendents stay longer than most in the country.”

The ASBA is a nonprofit that promotes locally elected governance of public education and has successfully completed 90 searches in last 10 years, said Steve Highlen, executive search and senior policy consultant.

The organization has a national network of contacts that has served them very well, he said.

This includes many common acquaintances with in-state candidates, virtually every senior leader in Arizona and every district, and relationships with 40 universities' superintendent training programs, he said.

In addition, ASBA works intimately with the Arizona Superintendent’s Association, Arizona Association of School Business Officials and the Arizona Department of Education, Mr. Highlen said.

“And there is one of me in every 50 states, each 50 states participating in a national network of superintendent search procedures,” he said. “If we get a candidate in West Virginia or Michigan or wherever it might be, we are on the phone right away with that state association for them to check with local boards to find out the characteristics demonstrated in their seated district.”

Mr. Sandoval said both organizations demonstrated an ability to search and ultimately define a candidate for multiple districts on national scale.

“But when I look at the importance of market intelligence and understating of target audiences, the ability to do so seamlessly and the ability to have your partner  at fingertips, I stick with my original choice of ASBA,” Mr. Sandoval said.