The Mississippi School Board Association will hold a pair of community meetings in March to gather input as it begins its search for the next Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent.
The MSBA was chosen to conduct the search to replace Philip Hickman, whose contract expires June 30 and was not renewed.
The first of the two meetings, sponsored by the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 19 at the Courtyard by Marriott on 18th Avenue.
On March 20, another community meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. at site to be determined. That meeting will follow separate meetings for district administrators (2 p.m.) and teachers (4 p.m.).
“These are important meetings for a couple of reasons,” CMSD Board President Jason Spears said. “First, it gives the public an opportunity to come out and express themselves, ask questions and provide their insight in what they would be looking for in the next superintendent. Second, all the information gathered at the meetings will go through a process to help the board put together interview question for the candidates and analyze candidates based on the qualities the public has said they believe are important.”
CMSD will begin accepting applications from superintendent candidates Friday. The window to apply closes March 23.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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