Two experienced educators, one from Alaska and the other from Colorado, are finalists for the Haines School District superintendent position.
The Haines school board chose James Patrick Manning and Roy Getchell to visit Haines for a site visit and final interviews Feb. 20 and 21.
The board spent Saturday morning interviewing six semi-finalists, and brought back three in the afternoon for follow-up questions. They narrowed the pool to two after deliberation in executive session that day.
Board member Sara Chapell said she thought Manning had broad Alaskan experience built up through working in several different administrative positions in rural communities.
“He’s had the opportunity to learn a lot of the pieces of the puzzle that go into becoming superintendent,” Chapell said. “I thought he had a good handle on how schools work in Alaska.”
She added that Manning has worked under an experienced superintendent and liked that his leadership style has evolved as a result.
Chapell described Manning’s personality from the video interview as steady and even-keel, and board member Sarah Swinton said he came very highly recommended.
Roy Getchell impressed the board with his leadership experience in a large school in Abu Dhabi and currently at an elementary school in Avon, Colorado that is twice the size of the Haines School population.
Chapell said she liked Getchell’s experience in managing budgets, staff, and buildings. Swinton described him as very personable with a lot of energy.
When asked why the board decided on Getchell as a finalist when board members said at the beginning of the hiring process they would prefer someone with Alaskan experience, Chapell said “the right person can learn the Alaska specific part of this job. Roy is a collaborative leader and a good listener, and that’s what drew me to take a closer look. His experience and references, that’s what pulled him out of the pile for me.”
Board member Brian Clay said both candidates have vast experience, and he had similar opinions to Chapell and Swinton.
Chapell said she is not looking for someone who will “upset the apple cart and reorganize the whole situation,” but rather have a personality and leadership style that will fit in to the existing administration, staff and student body and add to the great things the school district is already doing.
The board collected comment cards from members of the public after Saturday’s interviews that helped board members narrow down the candidates.
“I do hope that folks who are interested take the time to be involved with us because all of the interviews will be open to the public and everybody is welcome and encouraged to join us and let us know what you think,” Chapell said.
The board ultimately has to make the decision, but we make better decisions when we have lots of input from the public.”
The board has had help with the hiring process from paid consultant Lenise Fontenot, who coached board members before the interviews on what to look for in the candidates’ responses. Former human resource director for the Juneau school district Patti Carlson, and wife to interim superintendent Rich Carlson, has also volunteered her time to do reference checks.
Rich Carlson said the personnel committee of the school board will meet Friday morning to determine if Patti Carlson will travel to the finalists’ home communities for a site visit.
“Both candidates are going to have things to learn and are not well seasoned as superintendents, but with a little mentoring both can do a good job for Haines,” Swinton said.
She said she was especially looking forward to hearing what staff have to say after the in-person interviews. “Hopefully we’ll be onto something good that will last longer than a year,” Swinton said.
The board may offer a contract to one of the candidates on Feb. 21. If not, Chapell said the district will go back to the drawing board.
“I’m really optimistic that’s not going to happen, that we’re going to find ourselves in a good situation,” Chapell said.