Exclusive: OPS Sets Aside Big Money for Big Search
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Before plunking down somewhere in the neighborhood of $250,000 a year for a new superintendent, Omaha Public Schools (OPS) is prepared to spend nearly as much to find Mr. or Mrs. Right.
Nebraska Watchdog has learned that as the district prepares to hire an outside consultant to lead the national search for retiring Superintendent John Mackiel’s successor, OPS has set aside $200,000 from its reserve fund to pay for the consultant and a variety of related expenses. “It’s there whether the board uses it or not,” says OPS spokesperson Luanne Nelson.
A 2006 study of superintendent searches prepared for the country’s top 65 urban school districts—Omaha is ranked 49—found searches cost anywhere from $40,000 to more than $100,000 “depending on the kinds of services the board wants.”
At a special meeting on August 29 OPS Board President Sandra Jensen said she wants a “top notch consultant…who will identify what are the characteristics we are looking for in a superintendent.”
Unlike many brick and mortar government projects—such as street and sewer jobs— where bidders submit a fixed price tag for their work up front, OPS is asking prospective consultants to submit an estimate of their firm’s costs. The final fee will be determined through negotiations between the firm and the district.
According to OPS’ plan here’s how the consultant hunt works:
- The school board’s search committee will review and evaluate proposals submitted by any number of consultants.
- Based on the committee’s initial review certain consultants will be interviewed.
- The committee will recommend at least one consultant to the board for its approval.
- The board will decide which, if any, of the firms it wants.
- OPS will negotiate a contract with the consultant. If there’s no deal OPS will consider another consultant candidate.
Earlier this year during its search for a new superintendent—Frank Harwood got the job—Bellevue Public Schools, with 10,000 students, shelled out $15,500 for a consultant. In addition the district paid another $4,426 for advertising and printing.
In 2010 Lincoln Public Schools, with 33,000 students, named Steve Joel superintendent after spending just over $28,000 for a consultant.
In 2009 Ralston Public Schools (RPS) with 3,100 students, hired its new superintendent—Jerry Riibe—from within the district, without a consultant. School board member Linda Richards who was board president at the time says they anticipated spending nearly $30,000 for a consultant and decided against it. “That was the cost of a teacher,” Richards tells Nebraska Watchdog.
Westside Community Schools in Omaha, which is also looking for a new superintendent, recently hired a consultant—McPherson and Jacobsen—for $10,900. A spokesperson for the 5,990 student district says that does not include advertising and other expenses.
The OPS board, which oversees more than 46,000 students, is scheduled to open bids October 10 at 2 p.m.
Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
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Posted under News, State Politics.
Tags: Frank Harwood, Jerry Riibe, Joe Jordan, John Mackiel, Linda Richards, Nebraska Watchdog, Omaha Public Schools, Sandra Jensen, Steve Joel
11:21 am on September 26th, 2011
More waste of taxpayer funds, which is so typical of OPS. And why? Because the members of the OPS board don’t have a clue and follow the lead of the current Supt. in spending wherever and whenever they want. Of course the average Joe and Jane Taxpayer don’t pay attention because they are too busy watching dancing with the stars and days of our lives reruns. Well, that’s too bad because I for one moved way out of Omaha because of boards like OPS has.
12:38 pm on September 26th, 2011
I’m wondering what the pay range will be for this new Superintendent? OPS fudged the numbers on Mackiel’s pay by giving him 9 weeks of vacation. If they wanted any credibility to this process, they would have appointed Justin Wayne to the search committee. In 2012, half of these clowns will go down like Penny Sophir did in 2010. I can only imagine the mailers that will be sent out against the incumbents.
4:36 pm on September 26th, 2011
I support an outside firm finding the replacement.
A new look at a stagnant situation is what is needed.
10:51 pm on September 26th, 2011
How about giving his secretary and the other 4 most senior secretarys each $15,000. raises and let them run OPS, they do it all except the big dinners and paid trips anyway. It would be too much butt to kiss, and too many palms to grease for the good ole boy system to sneak anything in. Take the other $360,000.00 and give the teachers a little raise and more of the basics for the classrooms they are buying out of pocket!
7:55 am on September 27th, 2011
Folks, read closely – it says the board has SET ASIDE $200,000 – NOT that they’re going to SPEND $200,000! Agreed that this sounds excessive – but I think that hiring outside experts is the only way to go. I would like to think that the final figure comes in closer to some of the others quoted above and that the board will not overspend our money.
8:03 am on September 27th, 2011
Time to revamp OPS or better yet merge all Dougals County School Districts!
To Omaha Realist – I bet they spend it all.
10:28 am on September 27th, 2011
@What!?: The answer is not to create an even bigger school district….OPS is already too large to run efficiently!
Ernie Chambers was right when he proposed to split OPS into three smaller systems,to provide closer local control and to minimize the wasteful and ineffective busing of kids across the district.
When Ernie returns to the legislature in two years he will have another eight years to get that done,plus some other badly needed reforms.
GO ERNIE!!
12:31 pm on September 27th, 2011
So OPS needs 3 Superintendents, 3 Asst Supers, 6 Secretary’s, 6 offices, 6 cars, etc, etc, etc, etc………??
7:39 pm on September 28th, 2011
Once OPS spends the $250,000+++ on finding a new superintendent at a salary of probably double what Makiel was making – and I’m sure with extra vacation time that us taxpayers can fund – Sandra Jensen and the other school board members will be crying about how they need to increase taxes to pay for all this. It’s time to end the gravy train for the school board and clean house. We need some school board members who have some common sense and aren’t looking to stick it to the taxpayers even more than the firefighter and police unions.