ROARING SPRING — Spring Cove School Board members held a public meeting Thursday to update the community on the district’s superintendent search.

Despite inviting the public to the discussion, however, no community members attended the meeting.

The board welcomed Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools Executive Director Edward J. Albert, who is helping lead the efforts on behalf of Spring Cove.

Albert said 13 individuals requested the application, 11 received it and seven or eight completed it.

So far, an executive director from an intermediate unit applied for the position, along with two superintendents and a former superintendent who currently serves in the central office. The rest of the applicants are central office workers and building principals.

He said the superintendent community search survey — which is accessible to the general public through the district’s website — is still open, so residents can submit their input on what type of superintendent they want to see lead the district.

As of March 13, about 187 people have completed the survey.

Some survey questions ask about the characteristics, level of involvement and immediate concerns residents seek in a superintendent.

“The board wants to be extremely transparent in this search,” he said, “and part of that transparency is doing a survey.”

When survey results return to the board, Albert said board members can use the community’s input to evaluate potential candidates during the search process.

The survey closes on March 20 at 5 p.m.

Applicant requirements

Albert said that when receiving an application, individuals must send a cover letter, resume, application with an attached essay prompt, a list of references and five recommendation letters.

During the interview process, potential candidates will record themselves answering a handful of questions through a hiring software called Spark Hire.

“You normally see the paperwork about candidate number one (and) you get to see 10 minutes of that candidate number one,” he said.

When board members are together and listening to the videos, Albert said members can choose applicants for further interviews based on the way they answered a question in their video.

Once members decide who gets an in-person interview, Albert would reach out to the candidates, often in front of the board.

Using a list of questions hand-selected by the board, the candidate will answer about 15 questions before they complete their final pitch or before board members ask any additional questions.

Choosing a final candidate depends on when the board comes to a conclusion, which may take one or two rounds of interviews or in-person trips to the candidate’s workplace.

When asked by teachers in the past, he said he looked for a candidate who could build relationships. And the next characteristic was communication skills.

According to Albert, applications are due on March 27, and he will review applications with the board on April 9. Potential interview dates are to be determined, but potential candidates could be presented to the board in May, which he said is a reasonable timeline.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.