The Estes Park Board of Education unanimously approved key components of its superintendent search Tuesday, Feb. 10, authorizing the job posting, advertising plan, and overall timeline during a regular meeting at the district administration building.
The votes formally advance the next phase of the district’s search process, following groundwork laid during a special meeting earlier this month.
Advertising strategy finalized
Board members authorized Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the search firm leading the process, to advertise the superintendent position through the firm’s base recruitment package as well as through the Colorado Association of School Executives and the Colorado Association of School Boards.
District staff confirmed that Estes Park is already a member of both CASE and CASB, allowing postings on those platforms without additional fees beyond existing memberships.
The board discussed whether to expand advertising to Chalkbeat, a regional education news outlet, but ultimately decided against adding the expense. Consultants advised that the combination of HYA’s national reach and statewide professional associations would provide sufficient visibility.
Background check expectations discussed
Board members also revisited questions raised at a previous meeting regarding background checks.
District staff explained that the district’s standard process includes fingerprinting, FBI checks, and a review of any workers’ compensation claims. HYA representatives noted that while those measures are appropriate at the initial stage, more extensive vetting is often conducted once a sole finalist is identified.
That enhanced screening can include verification of college transcripts and credentials, financial background checks, social media review, and additional due diligence, particularly if the candidate comes from out of state.
Consultants referenced recent cases nationally in which superintendent candidates misrepresented academic credentials or other qualifications, underscoring the importance of thorough screening at the finalist stage.
No formal changes were made to the background check process, but the board indicated it may authorize deeper screenings once finalists are identified.
Job posting centers on district story
The board next approved the superintendent job posting, which was revised to incorporate feedback from board members.
Rather than outlining specific leadership characteristics in the initial posting, HYA recommended waiting until community input is collected through surveys and focus groups. That feedback will be compiled into a formal leadership profile report, which will later guide candidate screening and interview questions.
Consultants explained that publishing leadership traits before gathering community input could appear premature. Instead, the current posting emphasizes the district’s mission, vision, belief statements, and key priorities.
Board members said the draft effectively captures the identity of Estes Park School District and its ongoing initiatives.
The job posting directs applicants to HYA’s Frontline application system through a live link embedded in all public listings, ensuring materials are submitted through the firm’s standardized process.
Search timeline approved
The board also unanimously approved the superintendent search schedule.
Community engagement sessions are scheduled for Feb. 26–28, including both in-person focus groups and an online survey in both English and Spanish. District officials said interpretation services will be available at designated sessions to ensure broad participation.
Consultants encouraged board members and district staff to help promote the sessions to maximize participation, noting that stronger community engagement results in a more meaningful leadership profile report.
The schedule calls for all application materials to be submitted by March 20, 2026 and for semifinalist interviews to take place Saturday, April 4. Consultants noted that because those interviews occur in executive session and candidates’ names are not yet public, scheduling over Easter weekend is unlikely to present significant conflicts. Virtual interviews will also be available if necessary.
Board members also briefly discussed the possibility of transition days between the outgoing and incoming superintendents prior to July 1. Consultants said those arrangements, if desired, would typically be negotiated as part of the final contract and could be structured on a per diem basis.
Next steps
The superintendent job posting is expected to go live immediately through HYA, with additional district communications to follow.
The meeting adjourned after approximately 30 minutes, with all votes related to the superintendent search passing unanimously.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, at 5:15 p.m. at Town Hall.