Next Vancouver Public Schools superintendent could be named by March

Vancouver Public Schools is expected to announce its new superintendent as soon as March, according to a timeline laid out by the search firm hired to recruit candidates to replace Dr. Steve Webb, who retires in 2022.

The school board selected Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson LLC, to head its superintendent search for a cost of $24,900, said district spokeswoman Pat Nuzzo. The lead consultant is Dr. Steven Lowder, a retired superintendent who resides in Vancouver.

During a recent board work session, the search firm laid out a five-phase search process that begins with an effort to seek input on qualities and skills the next leader of Clark County’s second-largest school district must possess, as well as identifying stakeholder groups for a series of meetings to hear feedback.

Lowder also shared with board members the firm’s search and hiring timeline. Recruitment efforts are underway via online applications, and candidate screenings are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 21 through Feb. 9.

Finalists will be named on Feb. 9, followed by interviews Feb. 15-19. Once the top choice is selected, the school board could approve the new superintendent’s contact as soon as its March 9 board meeting.

Webb has been the district’s superintendent since 2008, and announced his retirement in August effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year. The new superintendent’s first day in the district is July 1, according to the search firm’s timeline, and transitions to district superintendent July 1, 2022.