Geneva School District seeking new super – FingerLakes1.com Archive

The search for a new superintendent of schools to lead the Geneva City School District is under way. The current superintendent, Dr. Robert Young, plans to retire at the end of this year on Dec. 31.The search is being organized by a team from the Warner School for Professional Development and Education Reform of the University of Rochester. The team consists of Dr. Steve Uebbing, Dr. Harv Peris and Tim McElheran. All three are former long-time superintendents who have strong feelings about how searches should be conducted. Uebbing said the team has a high commitment to this area and will bring a research-based approach, experience and extensive contacts to the process Uebbing, a former superintendent in Canandaigua, has been working with the Geneva district for several years on strategic planning. Peris directed the Brighton school system and McElheran was superintendent in Victor. Their search process starts by listening to the concerns of parents, teachers, students, community members, school board members and community leaders. This research includes both focus groups and a community survey that can be accessed on line at www.genevacsd.org . The survey asks questions such as qualities desired in a superintendent, experience necessary and the school district’s strengths and challenges. The team will communicate its findings in a report that will be delivered at a board of education meeting. The report will include the results of focus groups and the community survey. The next steps will be advising the board on the issues of salary and residency, how to advertise the position and how to handle interviews. The team will screen candidates, including background checks, and continue to advise the school board on contract matters as the interview process evolves. The timeline of the search process lists the week of Oct. 10 as the date for the report to the school board, preliminary interviews the week of Oct. 31, finalist interviews the week of Nov. 28 and appointing a new superintendent on Dec. 19.