The Rye City Board of Education has launched its search for a new superintendent, finalizing a $26,800 contract with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates on Tuesday night.
The parties have outlined a plan to begin the first phase of the process by identifying key characteristics sought in a superintendent candidate. To gather input from all stakeholders, HYA will hold focus groups, community forums, and launch a survey after in January, according to a Dec. 18 school board email to the school community.
The school board is encouraging community participation to ensure the process reflects the needs and priorities of Rye’s residents.
“HYA is a highly experienced search consultant firm that has a deep understanding of both our District and community,” the board said in its email.
HYA was chosen from five consulting firms that responded to an October request for proposal (RFP) — following Schools Superintendent Eric Byrne’s retirement announcement. The school board approved the contract at its Dec. 17 meeting.
The contract states that the school district will be charged $2,500 per day per associate for extra on-site consulting.
HYA was one of two finalists interviewed by the school board. They were also the firm that assisted in the hiring of Byrne in 2017.
In response to the board’s RFP, HYA’s timeline outlines selecting a final superintendent candidate by March 2025, with plans to announce and appoint that person by April or May 2025 — ahead of a July 1 start date.
For Rye’s search, HYA is planning a community-driven process, incorporating surveys, focus groups, and forums to develop a “Leadership Profile” that reflects the district’s needs.
HYA advertises themselves as a “national firm with local connections and experience” according to the Dec. 18 email from the board. With more than 35 years of experience and more than 1,600 clients across nearly every state, HYA specializes in serving school districts, higher education institutions, and individual candidates, according to its website.
“The fact that it has assisted boards with successful selections in more than 1,600 searches with student enrollment ranging from less than 500 students to upwards of 640,000 is no accident,” the firm said in its proposal.