Forest Hills board narrows superintendent‑search approach; will interview four finalist firms

A majority of Forest Hills Board of Education members agreed to move forward with interviewing four firms that submitted proposals to manage the district's superintendent search, the board said at its May meeting. The board asked members to submit clarifying questions to the administration within two days so firms can respond before interviews and a possible special meeting to pick a vendor.

The decision followed a lengthy discussion of strengths and weaknesses among the four proposers. A board member said a national firm with a large recruiting network rose to the top for aggressive candidate outreach, while others favored Michigan‑focused consultants for local connections and post‑placement support. Board members repeatedly emphasized community engagement and accurate timelines, and asked whether firms would honor slower schedules or cap fees.

Board members said they want firms to provide concrete examples of how they would engage the community, what portion of the firm would work directly with the district, and whether legal tasks (background checks, counsel work) would be billed separately. One board member noted two Michigan firms offer continuing support after placement, which could affect total cost. Another said having a firm limit on fees was attractive; a different member raised concerns about some firms' proposed short timelines and whether costs would change if the district extended the schedule.

The board created a subcommittee earlier in the process and will use it to collect the questions and coordinate interviews. The chair said the search can be paced to allow broader community engagement, including public presentations from firms if members request them. No firm was formally selected at the meeting; next procedural steps are collection of written questions, firm responses, interviews and a subsequent decision at a special meeting.