Big Sky Times

Consultants for Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) gathered community feedback and recently met with 27 stakeholder groups in Missoula County, with the goal of learning what qualities people want to see in the next superintendent.

In response, members of the community told the district that they want a candidate with a wide range of experience in education who is business savvy and understands funding and budgets.

"They need somebody that's visible, collaborative, decisive, and I actually heard the term 'brutally honest,'" Sharla Anderson Johns, MCPS superintendent search consultant, said in an NBC Montana report this week. "They want somebody that will come in and be an active listener, who will listen to all of the stakeholders, who will take time to learn about the district, who will take time to learn about the history of what has worked and what hasn't worked before jumping in and making decisions."

The district reported that so far, 11 people have applied for the job. Once the application period closes on Jan. 10, consultants will review the applications and make recommendations on Jan. 24.

The district will begin interviews in February, the report said.