Tuesday, a group of community members — including parents, district staff and others — joined with members of the Board of Education of Moffat County School District for a public town hall to discuss the community’s priorities for the district’s next superintendent.

This conversation was a big success in bringing together many voices, including some who disagreed or saw things differently from one another, which is a great thing to see. It was valuable for the board, who will make the ultimate decision on which candidate to hire, to learn more about what matters most to the people they represent when it comes to this critical choice.

The first conversation was around the characteristics of the ideal superintendent of MCSD. Attendees had many great thoughts on what mattered most for what kind of person the district’s next leader should be. In no particular order, here are several:

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● Demonstrated leadership experience

● Committed to the district

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● Adaptable to the values and needs of this community

● Professional in demeanor and execution

● Open-minded, but also…

● In possession of a solid vision and a set of ideas

● A good listener

● Collaborative

● Consistent

● Communicative

● Organized

● Moral

● Capable of building unity and identity

● Willing to be involved in the community

Another portion of this conversation included identifying key traits in order of priority for a superintendent candidate. This was a great conversation that revealed many different points of view on what matters most. Essentially unanimous was the value of strong leadership skills. A more divided approach came when discussing values alignment and familiarity with the Moffat County community, but most people agreed that a person needs to know and understand this community and be willing to continue learning and adapting to its priorities.

Some community members believed professional experience in education was critical; others felt that was good to have, but less important. Nobody disagreed that it was super-important that this person have a good personality that is right for leading people and collaborating with the community at large. Some attendees valued a person coming in with a strong vision for the district, but others were more interested in someone coming in without preconceived notions and ready to be malleable to the will of the people, the board and the district staff.

Next, priorities to address were discussed. When this person takes the job, what’s most important for her or him to tackle first?

Among the suggestions, in no particular order:

● Budget, especially as it applies to use of funds

● Curriculum review and update

● Staffing, including recruiting and establishing clear job roles for staff

● Organizational vision

● Collaborative community outreach

● Building unity

● Improving culture among staff and building trust in the community

Finally, the group had a discussion about what to tell a person who the board felt met a good majority of these qualifications, who they wanted to hire, in order to give them reason to believe this is the right place for them.

This conversation started with a note that we shouldn’t be begging anyone to come here. We want to be wanted. It’s a great point. However, we also discussed why someone SHOULD want to come to Moffat County.

To boil it all down, this is what was said:

Moffat County School District — and Moffat County, in general — is packed full of great people, great teachers, great kids, great families and great raw materials. We, the district and the community, will get where we’re going with the benefit of great leadership and hard work. This is an opportunity to do a great work with a great people for a great purpose. So join us. Let’s be great together.