Firm hired in superintendent search

The Smackover-Norphlet School District is facing another change in leadership next year.

Smackover-Norphlet Superintendent John Gross plans to leave the position after this school year. The district has hired the McPherson & Jacobson LLC search firm for $10,500 to help find candidates for interviews.

The firm will guide the search, vet and present candidates, lead focus groups, help the school board formulate interview questions and work with the school board to establish first-year performance goals.

The goal is to have a new superintendent selected by the end of January and start work by the beginning of next school year.

Applications for the position are scheduled to close on Dec. 11.

After the winter holidays, a list of finalists will be developed, with a short video of each. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14-17, with an official selection by Jan. 22.

The district, which is north of El Dorado in Union County, has 1,145 students.

The Omaha, Neb.-based McPherson & Jacobson firm is helping two other school boards find superintendents: Bergman in Boone County in north Arkansas and Harrisburg in Poinsett County in east Arkansas.

State Desk on 10/06/2018

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