Here’s a look at how much Centre County schools spend searching for new superintendents
In the past three years, Centre County’s public schools have spent more than $36,000 searching for new superintendents.
Since 2021, four of Centre County’s five public school districts have gone through the process of finding and hiring new superintendents, with both Bellefonte and Bald Eagle area school districts currently looking for their next superintendents.
In the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, districts across the nation have struggled to keep superintendents. In the country’s largest school districts, around half had to replace a superintendent at least once between March 2020 and September 2022, EducationWeek found.
Although superintendents are approved by the district’s school board, they are often found through a consultant company hired by the board. Consultant companies are contracted to recruit candidates, verify credentials, gather stakeholder input and assist the board with the hiring process.
Below is a look at the costs associated with those consultant companies.
Bald Eagle Area
Bald Eagle has gone through the superintendent search process twice since 2021. In April 2022, the board approved a $7,000 contract with School Assist Consulting, LLC to find a replacement for former superintendent Scott Graham. In July 2022, the board approved a contract for Curt Whitesel to start as superintendent.
Following Whitesel’s resignation in January, the board approved another contract with School Assist Consulting for $9,000 to find another superintendent.
Joseph Clapper, who is the interim superintendent for the district, was listed as a search consultant for School Assist Consulting on both contracts. Both contracts also included reimbursements for travel expenses.
Bellefonte
Following Superintendent Tammie Burnaford’s retirement announcement in October 2023, the Bellefonte Area School board approved a contract with DiRocco Education Consulting, LLC for $19,000 in November.
On Wednesday, DiRocco Education Consulting held a community meet and greet with three finalists for the superintendent position but did not say when a final decision by the board could be expected.
State College
In May 2023, the State College Area board of directors approved a contract with Templeton Advantage, LLC for $17,500 plus $2,500 for travel to find a new superintendent.
The contract came a month after Superintendent Bob O’Donnell announced his resignation to become superintendent of the Downingtown Area School District.
In May 2022, former assistant superintendent Curtis Johnson was appointed as interim superintendent and was approved by the board as superintendent in March 2023.
Penns Valley
As the only Centre County district without a recent change in superintendents, Penns Valley has not contracted a consulting company for a hiring in recent years. Brian Griffith has been with the Penns Valley district as superintendent since 2008. In 2021, the board unanimously approved to renew his contract until 2027.
Philipsburg-Osceola
After the departure of longtime superintendent Gregg Paladina, the Philipsburg-Osceola board approved Rodney Green to find a new superintendent for $5,000 in August. In November, the board hired Dan Potutschnig on as permanent superintendent, with a contract through 2027.
