Board sets dates in search process
Nov. 7—During a special meeting Thursday night, the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees decided on dates for the superintendent search.
Superintendent Scott Muri announced his retirement in August. Chief of Schools Keeley Boyer was named interim superintendent by the board.
The Texas Association of School Boards was chosen to conduct the superintendent search, which will be national.
The board will receive the applications Jan. 8 and TASB will be back Jan. 14 to review them, TASB senior consultant Marian Strauss said.
An online survey is available at for people to voice their opinions on what they would like to see in the next superintendent.
Strauss said TASB will return Jan. 14 for the board to review applications. The applications will be arranged according to experience and available to the board Jan. 8.
Initial interviews will be Jan. 28, 29 and 30.
Strauss said the second round of interviews will be Feb. 10, 12 and 13. Potential site visits will also be in February.
A lone finalist is expected March 3 and the vote to hire on March 25, Strauss said.
Strauss said a third party company will conduct background checks — criminal, credit and social media. They will also go through all the candidates' college work, she said.
Strauss said if there is someone with a lot of red flags, TASB will let the board know ahead of time.
Trustee Bob Thayer said it is important to have the public, staff and faculty involved.
TASB will talk to the board members individually and will meet with a wide variety of community members. Strauss encouraged the board not to attend those so people will feel more comfortable speaking freely.
"It's high value to all of us that we're talking our time, (doing our) due diligence (and) seeking input, especially from our staff, not just us," Thayer said.
Board President Chris Stanley said he wants to have as much community input as possible.
Board members Delma Abalos and Dawn Miller said they would like to see all the chambers of commerce and pastoral alliances participate.
Also mentioned were the Education Foundation and civic groups. Abalos said she would like TASB to talk to members of LULAC as well.
Strauss said TASB will send the board weekly updates.
"We are thrilled, again, to be assisting you. I think this is going to be a great search. The district has a great reputation. ... I think you're going to have some great applications," Strauss said.
She added that they have already received interest in the job.
Stanley said he thinks TASB is going to find some incredible candidates for superintendent.
Stanley said the board was assured that the net would be cast nationwide for candidates to try to "bring in as many incredible candidates as possible."
He added that when Muri got to ECISD, the district was in desperate straits. Muri got ECISD from bad to good and the next superintendent is going to get them from good to better or good to great.
"In order to find an agent of change like that who can move the 34,000 plus kids in our district move like that we have to go wide," Stanley said.
The new superintendent would start in summer 2025.
Muri came from outside, spent time in Houston and came to ECISD.
"For me that's important because somebody has to understand the way public education works in Texas, but I don't think that's a deal breaker necessarily. If we find an agent of change who is inspirational, there might be a steep learning curve, but we're willing to help with that also so we're not saying no to anyone," Stanley said.
