The firm that was hired by the board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools to lead the search for a new leader for the district has no documented history that it ever completed a superintendent search.
In fact, the only superintendent search that Perkins Consulting Group was involved in was for a small school district in New York state, where the board ultimately decided to promote its deputy superintendent, according to documents provided to the district by the consulting firm’s head, Brian Perkins.
His firm was hired last month by the Pittsburgh board in a 5-4 vote at a rate not to exceed $100,000. Board directors Thomas Sumpter, Regina Holley, Carolyn Klug, Terry Kennedy and Sylvia Wilson approved the measure.
Board member Cynthia Falls voted no and outgoing directors Mark Brentley, Sherry Hazuda and Bill Isler abstained.
Ms. Holley said she and Mr. Sumpter met Mr. Perkins at a conference for the Council of Urban Boards of Education and recommended his consulting firm to the board when then-superintendent Linda Lane announced plans to retire from the district in September. Ms. Holley and Mr. Perkins said they were “impressed with his credentials.”
Mr. Sumpter said he did not contact any of Mr. Perkins’ references and did not know if any other board members did so.
“I don’t think that was carried out by any specific person,” he said. “I guess it comes down to Dr. Perkins’ unique skill set that he brings and us being satisfied with that.”
The board also did not distribute a request for proposals for other potential candidates, raising questions among some community members and stakeholders about the amount of input and participation the public will have in the hiring decision.
see more at: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/2015/12/07/Consulting-firm-picked-by-city-to-hunt-for-schools-chief-lacks-history/stories/201512070022
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