Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Mary Brayak, with the MASB, gave a presentation to the Hancock School Board on Monday, providing a detailed analysis of a recent school district stakeholder survey on the search criteria for a superintendent. Brayak has been working with the Board on determining the qualifications and assets of a candidate as the Board searches for a new superintendent.

HANCOCK — At a special meeting on Monday, the Hancock School Board was given a slide presentation on the breakdown of the recent school district’s Superintendent Survey results. The online survey asked the school district’s families, employees and other stakeholders, a wide array of questions to help the Board in determining what to look for in their search for a new superintendent.

The presentation was given by Mary Brayak, with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB). Brayak, a retired school superintendent with over 45 years in the education, conducted the analysis of the survey results. Brayak was present at the Board’s Sept. 25 Work Session meeting and talked with the trustees about training in regards to the process of posting the superintendent position, the stakeholder survey and a timeline of the search. Also discussed were ways to present the survey results.

At Monday’s meeting, Brayak said the respondents comprised a broad section of the community.

Brayak noted that the survey responses included questions such as

• How long have you lived in the district

• How long have you worked in the district.

• What type of stakeholder are the respondents (check all that apply). Of 157 who responded, 10% answered that they currently did not have children in the school district.

The survey also asked respondents about strengths, challenges and concerns of the district. Challenges included declining enrollment, retaining students, concern over people leaving the district. These concerns are typical for all districts, Brayak said.

“The districts up here (in the U.P.) are getting smaller and smaller,” Brayak said. “Every one’s.”

The next section of the survey, said Brayak, spoke directly to the Board, as it reveals what the stakeholders felt is important in a superintendent candidate.

“Overwhelmingly, what we see in the Upper Peninsula most frequently,” Brayak said, “a Master’s Degree plus administrative certification and an endorsement.”

While those are not absolute requirements, Brayak said, these are qualifications people would like the Board to look for.

Currently, said Brayak, a superintendent candidate does not have to currently have a Master’s Degree or administrative certificate, but if a candidate lacking those requirements is hired, he or she must obtain them within three years of being hired.

“Because there is such a lack of administrators,” she said.

The survey also found that administrative experience, experience in school financing and budgeting were also high on stakeholders’ preferences.

Also high on the list were a candidate who employs a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, but reserves the final decisions to themselves.

The stakeholder survey analysis also served as the framework for questions to be asked the candidates during the interview process.

The superintendent application and search criteria are posted on the Hancock Public Schools website. The preliminary posting date was Sept. 29, 2023, and closes on Nov. 9 at Noon.