CRCSD close to hiring new district superintendent

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Community School District's board of directors is scheduled to approve a contract Wednesday for its next superintendent.

The identity of the incoming superintendent has not been disclosed. The proposed contract starts July 1, according to an agenda released Tuesday in advance of the board meeting.

The candidate interviewed for a second time Monday night after an initial interview last week, board President Mary Meisterling said. The board considered offering a second interview to another candidate, but was satisfied with the first candidate's interview, she added.

The interview Monday — which was held in closed session — lasted almost two hours, according to minutes from the meeting. The board then met in another closed session for an additional 55 minutes.

Bill Attea, the district's consultant in its superintendent search, was present for the meeting, according to the minutes.

The board held initial interviews with three superintendent candidates March 8 and March 10, Meisterling said. Attea presented the board with five possible candidates in a March 6 meeting, she said, and the board chose three to interview.

Meisterling said the board has no plans to announce the superintendent candidate before Wednesday's meeting.

In the district's last superintendent search, which resulted in David Benson's 2008 hire, the board held a public forum with Benson after it announced him as the lone finalist and before it officially hired him.

Benson announced his retirement in December and will step down June 30. His salary is $229,104.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the district's administrative building, 2500 Edgewood Road NW, Cedar Rapids.