New Pinellas schools chief might be selected by April

School Board members meet with a search firm official and set a tentative schedule for picking a superintendent.

LARGO - The Pinellas County School Board could select a new superintendent as early as April.

A tentative schedule discussed with board members Monday indicates that interviews for a new superintendent could occur as early as mid March, with a clear favorite selected by the end of April. That person will replace Howard Hinesley, who will retire in November 2004.

The search officially kicks off next month as the Chicago-based search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates Ltd. visits the area for a series of meetings over two days.

The search firm will ask parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders to discuss what they value in the district and what issues it faces now and in the future.

The answers to those questions will help shape how the firm recruits candidates for the position.

Board members indicated Monday that they are leaning toward a more traditional candidate who has education experience. They will rely on the search firm to prescreen candidates in an effort to ensure confidentiality to candidates who could command $300,000 in salary and benefits.

It appeared on Monday that the board may spend more than the $50,000 listed in the contract with the search firm. Two additional workshops and extensive criminal background checks on the candidates will cost more than $4,000.

Board member Mary Russell came armed with questions about how the search will proceed.

William J. Attea, the principal manager of the search firm, warned School Board members to act like a team.

"You cannot have a superintendent come here and work for seven bosses," he said.

Attea urged board members to start the majority opinion and realize that talking is "the lesser part of communication." He urged them "to get in a workshop to get your act together."

Later, board members said they needed to hear Attea's comments and vowed to look for better ways to work together.

Or as vice chairwoman Jane Gallucci put it: "I think we need to ingest and digest what Mr. Attea said."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright