Superintendent search to begin Monday

SOUTH BEND -- Board trustees will meet next week to plan their future without current Superintendent Jim Kapsa.

Less than a week from now, South Bend School Corporation will begin the search for a new superintendent. It will be the third superintendent in four years.

WSBT News talked with Bill Sniadecki, one of the School Board Trustees.
He said Kapsa's replacement will hit the ground running.

When asked about the effects of Kapsa's announcement, a spokesperson from State Superintendent Tony Bennett's office said test scores will determine Washington, Riley and South Bend Alternative--- avoids a state takeover not Kapsa's retirement.

This is a road Sniadecki has been down before. He was involved in the effort to replace former Superintedent Dr. Robert Zimmerman.  This time, Sniadecki said, trustees will take their time to find the right candidate.

"There is no timeline," he said. "We would like to have one in place by the start of the school year, but it's not a priority."

"We want to make sure we get the best available," said Sniadecki.

The board will talk about committees to help with the search and using a national firm to find the next school chief. Sniadecki said the searches aren't cheap.

"That's going to cost money. You don't get something for nothing," he said.

Sniadecki said it's too early to name off a list of things the board is looking for in their next superintendent, but one priority is working to improve student performance at Washington and Riley High Schools and South Bend Alternative---three schools at risk of a state takeover.