The search for the next leader of Niles Community Schools has officially begun.

Current Supt. Michael Lindley, whose contract expires at the end of the school year, told the Board of Education Monday that it needs to begin the process of finding his successor.

Lindley came on in April on an interim basis after former Supt. Richard Weigel resigned in February.

Lindley never intended on becoming a full-time replacement, but was brought in to help the district transition from Weigel to its next leader.

Several board members indicated that they would like to use a headhunter firm to find potential candidates rather than using executive search firms like Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) or the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB). The district used MLI in the search that found Weigel.

Board member Jon Martin said he liked the headhunter idea because the firm might “look outside the box” rather than come up with the same list of names found in an MLI or MASB search.

That approach might cost the district more money, said board member Dana Daniels, adding that headhunters often charge a percentage of the first year salary for a

superintendent hire.

Board member Jeff Curry suggested that the district might be able to effectively recruit the next superintendent using its own connections.

“I’d hate to pay for some service and end up finding someone ourselves,” he said.

Lindley told the board he would research the cost of using a headhunting firm and get back with them at the Sept. 22 board meeting.

Lindley also told the board it would have to work on collecting data to determine three things integral in the superintendent search:

• Points of pride for the district

• Points of pride for the greater Niles area

• Desired attributes of a superintendent candidate

“We want to find the person who best matches what the community is looking for,” Lindley said.

Data collection methods could include community forums, surveys and advertisements using social media.

Lindley said the board should have the data collected by early October.

Also Monday, the board:

• Approved the borrowing of $1,008,500 in low-interest government bonds called Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) that will be used to purchase technology.

• Heard administrators talk about the start of the school year.

• Learned how to use a new program called Boardbook, which allows board members to access information regarding board meeting items, such as agenda budgets and packets, on a computer or iPad rather than using paper copies.

Lindley said the public can use Boardbook too by accessing it through the district’s website, nilesschools.org.