Cedar Rapids school district narrows superintendent search to three finalists

CEDAR RAPIDS - The search for a new Cedar Rapids schools superintendent has been narrowed down to three candidates.

The school board met Friday with Bill Attea, a consultant from Chicago-based HYA Executive Search who has been working with the board, to receive his final five suggested candidates. The board then picked three to interview.

The board will hold the interviews Sunday and Tuesday.

Board President Mary Meisterling said the board would like to announce its final decision soon, but the members agreed that if they did not find a candidate they all felt strongly about, they would reopen the search.

Attea conducted a targeted search to find candidates who met most of the criteria the board was seeking. Those criteria included someone who can make a long-term commitment to the district, understands how new research and best practices inform methods of teaching and learning, and can be accessible and transparent. Candidates from Iowa also were preferred.

Meisterling said she could not say how many of the final three candidates are from Iowa or provide other information about them because of confidentiality agreements.

The current superintendent, David Benson, announced his retirement in December and will step down June 30.

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