COOS BAY - When Coos Bay students return from spring break next week, it will mark the start of an intense, three-month search to identify and hire a new superintendent for the Coos Bay School District.

The School Board was informed on Friday of the tight timeline necessary to successfully hire someone before the start of next school year.

“It is late in the year for a superintendent search,” said Betsy Miller-Jones, an Oregon State Boards Association associate director, who said most administrators are hunting for jobs between January and March. “But people who are looking this time of year are looking hard and we will get their attention.”

At a cost of up to $15,000, the Salem-based organization will assist the district in advertising the position, screening candidates and facilitating interviews. Miller-Jones said at least 150 candidates would receive a brochure about the Coos Bay opening, primarily administrators in the Northwest.

But before posting the vacancy, the district plans to solicit comments from staff and the public about what they want to see in their next superintendent.

That meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3. From 4:30 to 7 p.m., the district office will be open for people to provide comments and offer suggestions to the school board.

“It's an opportunity for people to talk about what sort of challenges the next superintendent will face and what type of personality will work well with those already in place,” Miller-Jones said.

School Board Chairman Don Blom agreed.

“We want to know what type of a leader individuals feel confortable with in terms of educational settings and within the community,” he said.

The district will then craft a job notice so as to have it ready for approval at the April 9 school board meeting. Following a month-long advertising period, applications will be provided to a screening committee, composed of faculty, staff, teachers and citizens-at-large, for review. After narrowing the field down to between nine and 12 candidates, OSBA will draft a report of the top five to seven, who would be invited for interviews by the end of May. Once two or three finalists are identified, school district representatives would go visit the candidates' school districts and interview people familiar with the applicants. Those in the final group also would be invited to visit Coos Bay schools and participate in a second round of interviews.

At around the time seniors at Marshfield prepare to walk for graduation, the district would hope to be in negotiations with the chosen candidate. If for whatever reason the district does not find a desirable candidate, OSBA has a pool of interim superintendent candidates the district could choose from. Then, in the fall, a more comprehensive search could be undertaken.

But the consensus of the board appeared to be to avoid that route.

“It's like treading water,” said Blom. “We have a goal of increased student achievement and we have plans in place but it requires a long-term vision and follow through. If we are talking about plans to take, (hiring an interim) would be Plan Z.”

Despite their reluctance, Blom said the board members would be willing to hire an interim if no one is deemed suitable following the application process.

Miller-Jones warned the board it would need to closely comply with her deadlines. One week's worth of delay could mean the difference between getting the candidate they want, and having to settle for an interim, she said.

“It's pretty tight, but it sounds doable,” Blom said.

The schedule was put into motion when Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray announced her resignation at the March 12 school board meeting. She explained she was hired by the Parkrose School District in Portland to serve in the same capacity.