The Regional School District 17 Board of Education is seeking public input as it begins the process of filling the Superintendent of Schools vacancy. The Board of Education has contracted with Trumbull-based Cooperative Educational Services (CES) to help with the search process.

CES consultants will hold several one-hour focus group meetings in the Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate/Middle School Cafeteria on Tuesday, Aug. 20, and in the Haddam-Killingworth High School Cafeteria on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The focus group discussions will include opportunities for many different constituencies to share ideas that will help CES develop a proper leadership profile for the next RSD17 superintendent.

The focus group schedule, which can also be found on the district website at www.rsd17.org, is as follows:

Aug. 20 in the Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate/Middle School Cafeteria: teachers from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; parents and community members from 7 to 8 p.m.—

Aug. 21 in the Haddam-Killingworth High School Cafeteria: elected officials from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; parents and community members from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; teachers from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; non-certified personnel from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.; high school students from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; administrators from 4 to 5 p.m.; and parents and community members from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

If one of these assigned times poses a scheduling conflict, interested parties may attend another session. CES also encourages all RSD17 community members and employees to take an online survey regarding the skills and qualifications necessary to succeed as RSD17 superintendent. The survey can be found at bit.ly/r17 or through a link on the district’s website. It will be open through Thursday, Aug. 22.

Focus group and survey data will help CES create a leadership profile. The profile, which will be posted on the district website, will guide the Board of Education through the search process. Tom Jokubaitis will serve as the chief consultant for the search. The CES executive searches team has placed many successful superintendents, central office administrators, and school principals in public school districts across Connecticut. For more information, visit www.ces.k12.ct.us/searches.