Board Members on Hiring Committee

[Ed Fersch]

I too come from a small rural school. (one building p-12). This question came up at our recent board retreat with NYSSBA. We have had board members on interview committees for teachers in the past. The concern raised about this is that a board member may prefer a candidate who is not offerred the position. This can put the Superintendent and the board member in an uncomfortable place. So, from now on, the board will refrain from participation in interview committees except for the administrator positions.

[Carol Popolow Abraham]

We do not participate in teacher hire committees but do participate in administrator hire committees at the 'second interview' stage. The superintendent then does a final interview with the top two or three candidates and has final say in who is put forward to the board. This has not caused any issues for us. We have a seven member board.

[Bill Grau]

We do not participate in teacher interviews. The only interviews we do participate in are for the Superintendent. In my opinion, a BOE member having input to a committee and then final say in the hire puts the board in an awkward position.