Search for New School Superintendent for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (Savannah, GA)

2017 is a critical year for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System as the school board representatives are tasked with one of the biggest responsibilities a board can encounter. Nine elected leaders will decide the direction of the school district with this one decision.

This is not only a crucial, thought-provoking and time-consuming task, it is a very personal one for me as my son will be starting in the public school system this fall.

So, the questions everyone is asking…where are we in the search for Dr. Lockamy’s replacement and what are the next steps? The best way to explain what we have done and where we go from here is this:

Step 1 – Board searches for and hires a consulting firm to help facilitate the actual search. – DONE – Ray and Associates has been hired.

Step 2 – Input for candidate search criteria obtained by search company. The includes interviewing and surveying all 9 board members, members of the cabinet, and community stakeholders. This is also the time when the search firm places the survey online for full community feedback. – DONE – Completed as of the end of February.

Step 3 – The search firm develops the candidate profile for review by the Board and approval. The profile comes from all the surveys that were done online as well as in person and telephone interviews with Board Members, cabinet members, stakeholders, and community leaders. –  DONE – Completed as of March 1^st.

Step 4 – Recruiting and screening of candidates. The search firm will send out applications with instructions to candidates. Those applications submitted are screened by the search firm to determine those candidates most qualified and best for the position as determined by the established search criteria. The search firm prepares for interviews with the top candidates. – Mid-April

Step 5 – Interviews – Late April/Early May

Step 6 – Selection and announcement of new Superintendent – Early May

We are confident that through this process that we will get the best of the best for our children.

I will be hosting a Community Meeting tomorrow evening, March 14^th at 6:30 PM. Please join me at New Hampstead High School to discuss the Superintendent search! Also being discussed will be the budget for the next school year and how ESPLOST III funds will benefit West Chatham.

Michael Johnson serves as the Savannah-Chatham County Public School 7th District School Board Member and Buyer Agent for The Johnson Team with Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners.