Board to review cost of superintendent search

Terry Webster

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

With costs now reaching over $100,000, the Clark County School Board will review expenses incurred by the search for a new superintendent during Wednesday's meeting.

Search firm consultant William Attea and the School Board will discuss how to proceed in looking for a new leader for the district. The first search produced five candidates, but all of them either dropped out of the race or were rejected by the School Board.

Costs will mount if the School Board decides to pay travel and other expenses related to bringing more candidates to the district.

The board is attempting to hire a new leader for the district, the country's eighth largest, before Superintendent Brian Cram retires in July.

In a report dated Dec. 30, chief financial officer Walt Rulffes indicates $95,915.10 has been spent to date on the superintendent search. The total amount paid is $59,691.10, with an outstanding balance of $36,224.

The School Board Wednesday will be asked to approve an estimated $14,080 to have Kathy Harney continue working as the liaison for the superintendent search. If approved, the search expenses will total $109,995.10. The district is paying Harney $7,920 for work she has done up until Dec. 31.

A budgeted amount of $15,500 is being used to cover travel expenses, which includes $4,000 for School Board travel. Rulffes said the rest of that amount will be used to cover other expenses, like travel for the superintendent candidates.

"We believe we have everything covered under that amount," Rulffes said.

A written proposal by the district-hired superintendent search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, states the total budget, including the consultant fee, consultant expenses and other anticipated costs, should be approximately $75,000.

According to the proposal, the firm can provide two additional workshops at a fee of $4,000. One is a pre-employment workshop to help the board define new superintendent's role. The other would be a post-employment retreat workshop with the new superintendent.

The dollar amount committed (not paid) for the search, to date, includes the consultant's fee of $40,000; additional expenses (candidate travel, clerical and miscellaneous) $15,500; additional workshops, $4,500; advertising expenses, $15,000; advertising for the superintendent search firm, $575; additional advertising, $6,694; fliers and surveys, $5,726.10 and Harney's fee of $7,920 for a total of $95,915.10..

As of Tuesday, district officials did not note any additional expenses relating to the search.

The search firm's base fee of $40,000 includes up to six days for interviews and assures services until the School Board hires a superintendent, even if additional candidates must be presented after the first search, the proposal states. It also indicates there will be no additional costs for the search except for expenses. Harney could not be reached for comment Tuesday.