By Carolyn Cole
Published on July 26, 2008

Mustang School Board members moved forward with their search for a new superintendent Wednesday and will seek applications in August and September.

President Jeff Johnson said the process will be similar to the search board members conducted in 2008, which brought former Superintendent Karl Springer to Mustang from Chickasha. Springer started as Oklahoma City School District’s chief July 15.

School board members decided to take resumes through September and hold meetings in October to review possible candidates.

Even if school board members make a selection this fall, Johnson said the new school chief may not start in Mustang until July 2009.

Board Clerk Curtis Brewer said fellow members felt comfortable with Interim Superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot’s leadership and the strength of other administrators.
“We are very well suited right now and capable of taking our time on this,” he said.

Kristy Ehlers, Mustang School District personnel director, suggested the timeline to give possible candidates time to get classes started in their home districts before the interview process begins. It would also allow Mustang’s next school chief time to inform their home school board of their decision before board members renew administrator contracts in January and February.

In deciding to take on the search themselves, board members turned down a superintendent search service offered by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. The service would have cost the district either 7.5 percent of the new superintendent’s total contract or a fee of $100 per hour plus $50 per hour for travel, whichever was less.

Ehlers said she had already received several calls from educators asking about the position, adding the district could still advertise for candidates in state education publications.

“This is not a secret,” she said. “Many people in our state are talking.”

The board also approved a $391,042 bid from Lenevo to buy 400 computers for classrooms and computer labs at seven schools, Mustang, Lakehoma, Mustang Trails Mustang Valley elementary, schools, Mustang Education Center and both middle schools. The computers will be purchased using bond funds approved by voters in April 2007.

The district received six bids, but Technology Director Geromy Schrick recommended the third lowest bid because the companies with the lowest offers failed to include specifications for their machines.

Mustang historically used Dell as its primary computer vendor, but its bid was almost $20,000 higher than Lenevo. Network Administrator Daren Petersen told board members Lenevo offered a maintenance contract similar to the agreement Mustang has with Dell for its other computers.

The board also approved:

-Helping Canadian Valley Technology Center extend a road on property at SW 15th Street and Czech Hall Road for a cost not to exceed $85,895. The center is preparing to open an east campus on the property in August. The district owns 50 acres adjacent to the property, which school officials have said could be used to house a future secondary school.

-The reassignment of Greg Johnson as Mustang High School vocal music director after a year teaching at Mustang Middle School. Jeanna Wood was hired as an assistant high school vocal music teacher.

-The resignations of several key employees, including Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Cindy Schmidt, Mustang North Band Director Ryan Edgmon, Assistant Principal Andy North and School Nurse Neva Wiggins.