By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Dowagiac Board of Education Monday night met for about an hour with Dr. Craig Misner of Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI), hired March 1 to conduct the search for retiring Superintendent Peg Stowers’ successor, board President Randy Cuthbert said Wednesday.

Misner retired as RESA superintendent after 10 years as Parchment school chief. He is in his third year with MLI.

His wife, a Kalamazoo principal, plus retired Bloomingdale and Mattawan superintendents, are part of the team at the research institute, which as more than a search firm offers superintendent academies and other training. He is one of six regional presidents.

Misner just finished the superintendent search for Niles.

He has also been involved in recruiting executives for Lewis Cass Intermediate School District, Watervliet, Hartford, Lakeshore and Centreville/Mendon, which combined their efforts in neighboring St. Joseph County.

Meetings next week with staff and the community will help develop the district’s profile.
Cuthbert said board members have already provided their input.

At the March 29 board meeting the profile and search brochure will be finalized.

From April 1 to May 14, Dowagiac Union Schools will be recruiting candidates and collecting application materials.

May 14 is the deadline for applications.

The schedule calls for candidate screening and reference checks from May 14 until the 26th.

May 18-26 applications will be available in the central Wolverine Building office for confidential review by board members, if they desire.
At the May 26 board meeting, candidates will be presented so the board can select who it wants to interview.

There will also be board member orientation for the interview process.

Initial interviews will be set the week of May 31. Cuthbert said the board anticipates quizzing two candidates an evening for two to three nights.

The week of June 7 is set aside for second interviews.

Community visitations could be made the week of June 14.

The week of June 21 the finalist will be selected, a contract negotiated and a new leader appointed.

The superintendent’s start date would remain to be determined.

Despite his long service on school board – this will be his fourth superintendent – Cuthbert noted this is the first time he has worked with a search firm.

Ron Jones was already established when he joined the Board of Education and Larry Crandall and Stowers were internal candidates.