Search firm to be selected by December, community input to be gathered beginning in January

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday outlined a timeline for the search for a new district leader to replace outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier, who announced last month that he is resigning in March.

Trustees plan to issue a request for proposals this month, pending approval at the regular board meeting on Oct. 15. They then would interview potential search firms in the latter half of November, with the ultimate goal of making a final firm selection in December.

Once a search firm is in place, they can start gathering community feedback to develop a superintendent candidate profile, a process that would begin in January. The selected firm would help trustees host community meetings and gather input from various district stakeholders, including parents and students, school-based staff, district employees, and business and community members.

Trustees also have scheduled a training session focused on the search process for early November. The training will be conducted by Cathy Mincberg, a former HISD school board member who now serves as president and CEO of The Center for the Reform of School Systems.

Dr. Grier has said he plans to step down on March 2, 2016. This is his seventh year as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District.