The school district board has selected three candidates to be interviewed for the upcoming superintendent position at SOCSD.
• Katrina Sacco, Director of Curriculum and Assessment for the Payson School District
• Dr. Tom Swaninger, Principal of Eastmark High School, Queen Creek School District
• Dr. Chad Knippen, Associate Superintendent of Catalina Foothills School District
The steering committee completed an initial screening of seven applicants at a special board meeting on Wednesday, June 6th. Next, the board plans to conduct her personal interview with the candidate on Monday, June 12, followed by a community forum in public session. Finalist.
The school district expects successful applicants to take over the position on Saturday, July 1. However, the Board also reserves the right to extend the duration of any stage of the selection process.
The process has been swift because of the shortage of qualified applicants for supervisory positions and the abundance of such positions throughout the state. Last month, 10 school districts hired superintendents in Yavapai County alone.
One such position in the county has been filled as the Clarkdale Jerome School District Board of Trustees hired Matt Schumacher as the district’s superintendent at a special meeting on Saturday, May 13. Schumacher previously served as Director of Operations at Cottonwood Oaks. Creek school district.
Other recent changes of government in SOCSD include the appointment of Heather Isom as principal of Sedona Red Rock Middle and High School, and the promotion of teacher George Gleason to Vice Principal, Isom’s previous position. is included. Mr. Gleason is a junior high school tutor and will assume his new position on Monday, July 17.
Investigation result
In late May, the district solicited public comment on what the community wants from the incoming superintendent and what the district’s greatest strengths and challenges are.
“This is the 9th time [superintendent search] We’ve done it this year,” said Nicholas Clement of the Arizona Board of Education, who has facilitated the search. “Your response rate was very good. The district did a good job disseminating the information and people took the time to complete the survey.”
112 respondents responded to the survey. 46% of respondents had students in the district, 41% were current or former SOCSD employees, 14% were parents or guardians who previously enrolled students in SOCSD, 13% were current or former students, 9% were residents. If no family member is enrolled in SOCSD.
When asked what the biggest challenges facing SOCSD are, 72 respondents said housing, high cost of living, meeting the needs of English learners, general student behavior, student performance, and school district enrollment. cites population as a major issue.
One of the respondents replied, “I work at an elementary school.” “Beautiful campus, but the grounds are not properly maintained. [has] Weeds grow through cracks. The paint and plaster on the building are peeling off the building. “
West Sedona School principal Elizabeth Tabassi said the school is currently looking into renovating the playground.
“Our playground is one of the ideas the PTA is considering for using part of it. [the] The money was raised at the carnival,” said Tavasi. “Our ground staff work hard to maintain the holes. It’s not perfect, but it’s improving over time. All the moisture in the spring contributed to weed growth, too.”
The school doesn’t have a fixed schedule for the playground renovations, but some of the money raised at the carnival was used to replace water stations with bottle-filling stations, Tavassi said.
More than 10% of comments also cite the need for more support for English learners, and the district is increasing staff for those students. Fifth grade teacher Daniel Beinfest will join the West Sedona School of English Development this fall. Sedona Red He is also recruiting for an ELL teacher at Rock High School, but has not yet been able to fill the position.
