The Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center School Boards met in a special joint session Wednesday.

The Boards heard from three search firms in regards to offering their services in finding the next shared superintendent. Before the firms presented, consultant and Colfax-Mingo Superintendent Jim Verlengia briefed the Board and informed them that current Superintendent Steve Smith will not be actively involved in the selection process of the new superintendent.

The three firms that presented were McPherson and Jacobson out of Omaha, Ray and Associates from Cedar Rapids, and Grundmeyer Leader Search out of Ankeny. Following each presentation, Board members filled out a review of each firm and they concluded the meeting with a group discussion in closed session.

Guthrie Center School Board President Wes Policky says having these presentations early in this school year will be an advantage in eventually selecting the right candidate to fill the position come next school year.

“It’s nice to feel like we are being more proactive than reactive for our kids and the community…I think the reason why we need to pull in those firms is really to hold our hands and make sure that we’re doing our due diligence and that we’re checking off every box, if you will, to make sure that at the very end we get the best candidate for our school district(s).”

The selected firm is expected to be formally approved at next week’s regularly scheduled Board meetings.