The Mid-Del school district’s search for a new full-time superintendent has drawn 14 applicants, including one person who currently serves as an assistant superintendent, officials said.

Mid-Del Board of Education members interviewed applicants last week and continued with some interviews this week.

“We are pleased with the quality of the candidates we have,” said Jeff Mills, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, which was hired to conduct the search. “You might ask ‘why aren’t more applying?’ Well, Mid-Del is at a level where a lot of individuals will self-eliminate. They’re not ready for that. In some situations, you might get 20 to 40 applicants and find three or four you want to interview. In this case, we easily have six to eight they (school board members) will need to hone in on.”

Thirteen of the 14 candidates are from Oklahoma, and one lives out of state.

“All of the candidates we’ve talked to have said they applied because Mid-Del has a superb reputation,” Mills said. “It is one of the elite positions in the state. We have a wealth of talent from which to choose. They definitely have the qualities we are looking for.”

Mills made his comments during the Del City Chamber of Commerce general membership luncheon Jan. 26.

March timeline

School board members have said they want to make a hiring decision by the second week in March. The person hired will likely report to duty July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year, school officials have said.

Two district officials confirmed that Pam Deering, the district’s deputy superintendent for fiscal services and human resources, is among the 14 applicants. Deering has been at the Mid-Del district for the past 17 years.

School board member Jimmie Nolen said the salary for the next superintendent will be negotiated by the board. Interim

Superintendent Pam Twidwell is paid $166,552 a year in salary and benefits, and former Superintendent Bill Scoggan was paid $185,625 with salary and benefits. After a new superintendent is hired, Twidwell will return to her previous duties as assistant superintendent of operations.

Public input

During the Jan. 26 meeting, Mills asked chamber members their opinions on characteristics the next superintendent should possess. Responses included good communication skills, strategic planning and community involvement.

Several chamber members said the next superintendent should have previous classroom teaching experience and be an “instructional leader.” The members also suggested that the winning candidate possess the ability to “bring in quality teachers.”

In an effort to involve the public in the search process, each school board member nominated a district resident to provide official input. Those named to the citizens’ panel are David Bibens, Aarone Corwin, Roger Ford, Dave Holland and Sherri Miller.

tfarley@eastwordnews.com