Gibraltar Superintendent Search Moves Forward

Gibraltar School is moving forward in its quest to find a new district superintendent for the first time in 15 years. Current Superintendent Stephen Seyfer is retiring at the end of this school year.

The school board is working with School Exec Connect to find a candidate to replace Seyfer.

School Board President Sally Pfeifer said the board will get a list of six candidates from School Exec Connect at its March 12 meeting, with interviews to take place March 24. After that the board will narrow the list to two or three finalists who will be interviewed again April 14.

Pfeifer said the board is aiming to make an offer to a candidate by the end of April.

In January the school presented a survey to the community seeking input into what they would like to see in a new superintendent. The board received 125 responses.

“We wanted to get a good feel from the community about what we should look for,” Pfeifer said. “They want someone forward-thinking, with good communication skills, who will build relationships with the staff and community. They want a clear vision with a focus on 21st century skills; [someone] who understands the financial challenges of the district.”

Seyfer has also worn the elementary principal’s hat at Gibraltar, which Pfeifer said the new superintendent will wear as well. However, she said the board is discussing relieving the new superintendent of some of Seyfer’s other duties, such as supervisor of transportation and some supervision of activities.

“My biggest concern is keeping our initiatives going,” Pfeifer said, “such as professional development of our staff and our one laptop per student and gifted and talented programs going.

School board member Fred Anderson said the board is aware that some in the community are concerned about the pay level of the superintendent’s position at Gibraltar.

“However,” he said, “we are going to have to remain competitive if we want a quality candidate.”

Anderson said he was impressed by the community response to the survey.

“We got more of a response than I expected,” he said. “More importantly, the majority of responses show that the community is engaged in the process, offer good ideas, and encouraging the board to work as hard as they can to find the new one.”