The Sedona Oak Creek School District will be accepting applications through Wednesday, May 31 through the Arizona Board of Education website for the position vacated in September by outgoing Superintendent Dennis Dearden.

The SOCSD Board also solicits public input on what qualities the community, parents, teachers and students are looking for through a survey of district leaders. sedona.k12.az.us website.

The search is being handled by the ASBA, which will promote and review applicants after being tasked with this process by the SOCSD Board of Directors at its meeting on Wednesday, May 10.

The finalist will appear before the local school board and Sedona at a community forum at the end of June, according to the announcement, with a new superintendent expected to take up the role on Saturday, July 1. ing.

“We’ve come a long way since Mr. Dearden took office. We’re in a different place now,” said SOCSD Board Chairman Randy Hawley. “We have a strategic plan and a good team to work with.”

Hawley said qualifications the board is looking for include experience as a teacher in the public school system, success as a school principal, experience in district-level roles, as well as knowledge of school finances and bond program experience. said. SOCSD also reportedly urged voters to void the budget at its November meeting.

“Normally [we’d] Post it up and maybe give people a month or so to apply,” Hawley said. “However, due to the lag in the school year and the fact that there are 10 other superintendent positions in the county, we need to expedite the process so we don’t lose good candidates to other school districts that have already started. I felt.” Their process. ”

The Clarkdale and Cottonwood superintendents will retire this summer.

The job’s stated salary range is $120,000 to $130,000, “plus a performance-based component.” This is the highest salary offered for a Superintendent position within Yavapai County, especially considering her SOCSD is a relatively small district.

The next SOCSD board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 13 at 4:00 pm at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.