By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood — The Ironwood Area Schools Board of Education is turning to the experts for help with its search for a new superintendent, hiring the Michigan Association of School Boards to conduct the search Monday.
Its superintendent searches takes roughly 14 weeks on average, according to a proposal from the MASB given to board members, and cost between $5,000 and $7,000.
Under the proposal’s scope of work, the MASB’s executive search committee will work with Ironwood’s board to develop a search process, before engaging stakeholders and recruiting in-state and out-of-state candidates.
The MASB can also help the board during the interview process, according to the proposal, and with the contract negotiation and transition period.
The position of district superintendent opened up after Superintendent Tim Kolesar announced in December he would be retiring at the end of the year.
Kolesar became superintendent in 2010, and was first hired in the district as a teacher in 1977.
“I think 35 or 36 years is enough times,” Kolesar said in December.
“I truly enjoy the kids, the kids are what makes this job special. They’ll always have special place in my heart, I love trying to motivate kids to do the best they can so they can be successful in life,” Kolesar said. “One of the things we always say is we want our students to be more successful than we are; and when kids come back and tell us their stories, that’s really what gives us true satisfaction.”