Allegany County board hires MABE to run superintendent search; board approves several routine motions
February 18, 2024 | Allegany County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland
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The Allegany County Board of Education voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to hire the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) to assist with a superintendent search, approving an agreement the board said would structure advertising, vetting and timeline work while leaving hiring authority with the local board.
Board counsel Mister Llewellyn introduced the MABE proposal and recommended the board authorize the agreement and allow the board president to execute it on the board’s behalf. Doctor Bond moved to approve the contract; Miss Lepley seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Mister Green described MABE’s pricing and compared it to private retained search firms, saying, “MABE’s total fee for the superintendent search will not exceed $23,000 plus expenses.” He outlined likely additional costs — advertising, consultant fees, travel and background checks — and estimated total search costs could range higher depending on travel and advertising choices. President Bender emphasized that hiring MABE does not remove the board’s responsibility to select the superintendent: the contract provides assistance with logistics and vetting, he said, but the final hiring decision remains the board’s.
Votes at a glance: the board also approved the consent agenda, a second reading of food‑service policy EF and the draft budget priorities during the same meeting. Motions were recorded as passing by unanimous vote. Where the transcript did not list individual roll‑call votes by name, the board recorded the motions as approved unanimously.
The agreement with MABE lays out a consultant role to manage search logistics, recruitment advertising and candidate screening. The board discussed the value of a professional search process and noted that neighboring districts are also conducting searches, which could affect candidate pools and timing. Board members said the MABE contract is a cost‑effective alternative to private retained search firms, but they also flagged potential competition and added expenses for background checks and travel.
The board president said next steps will include setting a search timeline and working with MABE to finalize advertising and candidate outreach. The record shows the board approved the agreement and directed staff to proceed under the terms the board approved.
Board counsel Mister Llewellyn introduced the MABE proposal and recommended the board authorize the agreement and allow the board president to execute it on the board’s behalf. Doctor Bond moved to approve the contract; Miss Lepley seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Mister Green described MABE’s pricing and compared it to private retained search firms, saying, “MABE’s total fee for the superintendent search will not exceed $23,000 plus expenses.” He outlined likely additional costs — advertising, consultant fees, travel and background checks — and estimated total search costs could range higher depending on travel and advertising choices. President Bender emphasized that hiring MABE does not remove the board’s responsibility to select the superintendent: the contract provides assistance with logistics and vetting, he said, but the final hiring decision remains the board’s.
Votes at a glance: the board also approved the consent agenda, a second reading of food‑service policy EF and the draft budget priorities during the same meeting. Motions were recorded as passing by unanimous vote. Where the transcript did not list individual roll‑call votes by name, the board recorded the motions as approved unanimously.
The agreement with MABE lays out a consultant role to manage search logistics, recruitment advertising and candidate screening. The board discussed the value of a professional search process and noted that neighboring districts are also conducting searches, which could affect candidate pools and timing. Board members said the MABE contract is a cost‑effective alternative to private retained search firms, but they also flagged potential competition and added expenses for background checks and travel.
The board president said next steps will include setting a search timeline and working with MABE to finalize advertising and candidate outreach. The record shows the board approved the agreement and directed staff to proceed under the terms the board approved.
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