Here’s what happens next in our superintendent search 

A month from now, Ferndale School District will know who its new superintendent is. While the new superintendent will not assume the role with FSD until July 1, the school board will select the district’s future leader on March 25. 

Between now and then, the Ferndale School Board has a few more steps to take before making that choice. Here is a quick rundown of the final stage of our superintendent search. 

First, a recap of how the search began. After many years leading Ferndale School District, former superintendent Dr. Linda Quinn officially retired in September 2021. Before then, the school board hired search firm Northwest Leadership Associates to lead a nationwide search for a new superintendent. During the fall, the firm conducted surveys and focus groups, asking local students, school staff, parents and community members what they wanted to see in a new school leader.  

The position closed February 25. The school board will meet in an executive session on March 8 to review applications and select semifinalists and finalize interview questions.  

On March 19, the Board will hold an all-day meeting to interview semi-finalists. The school board will conduct individual interviews with each candidate during this time. This meeting will be open to the public. While questions will not be taken from the audience, the public is invited to listen and provide feedback to the board on each candidate for consideration. After the interviews are finished, the Board will enter another executive session to discuss and select three finalists out of the group of candidates. 

Those three finalists will each get one full day to do an all-encompassing tour of Ferndale’s schools the following week. The finalists will visit on March 21, 23 and 24 to see school buildings, meet with student, staff and community member groups, as well as the community in separate forums. At the end of each of those three days, the Board will hold an executive session with the visiting candidate for a final interview. 

The Board will announce their superintendent selection during a special meeting, open to the public, on March 25. 

Locations and specific times for some of these meetings are still being determined and will be made public when they become finalized. Current available information can be found on the district’s website and will continue to be updated as details become available.