Ken McLemore

HOPE – A community forum concerning the selection of a new superintendent for the Hope Public Schools is planned as the next step in the process, the HPS Board of Education announced today.

Community patrons, parents, students and stakeholders are invited to a public session Tuesday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in the Hope High School auditorium for the purpose of providing input into the process and selection criteria.

The meeting will be conducted for the board by McPherson and Jacobson, LLC, the Omaha, Neb., based executive search firm retained by the board to facilitate the selection process.

The meeting is open to anyone wishing to attend, according to Dr. Kieth Williams, consultant for McPherson and Jacobson.

“Your input is very important to us; we hope you will attend,” Dr. Williams said in a letter to patrons.

The meeting is in keeping with a timeline set by the board to have a new superintendent in place by July 1. A closing date for applications is anticipated in mid-May with a selection of finalist candidates later in the month. Interviews toward a selection of a new superintendent are anticipated at the end of May and first of June.

Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart has accepted the superintendent’s position in the Searcy, Arkansas, public schools and will assume duties in Searcy on July 1.