CVU board, CSSU officials establish timeline for principal search

The Champlain Valley Union (CVU) School Board is working on a timeline for the search process for a new principal in the wake of current administrator Jeff Evans’ announcement of his resignation.

Evans told school staff and CVU families he was leaving CVU to accept a position as director of student learning for the CSSU. Evans has worked at CVU for 24 years.

During the board’s Tuesday, Feb. 17 meeting, CSSU Superintendent Elaine Pickney discussed a timeline for the search for a new CVU principal.

Pickney noted that the position is currently advertised on SchoolSpring, a national site listing all open jobs in education. With the goal of naming a hiring committee completed by late February, Pickney plans on holding meetings on March 3 to review interview protocol. She plans on a March 5 get together to review applications. Pickney also told CVU school commissioners she is asking former Chittenden Central Superintendent of Schools Michael Deweese to aid in the process. Deweese retired in 2013 after a more than three decade career in education.

At the time of last week’s meeting, the CVU Board also named school directors Polly Malik of Williston, Joan Lenes of Shelburne, and Lorna Jimerson of Charlotte to serve on the hiring committee. The first round of candidate interviews is slated for March 9, while the second is set for March 13. March 16 has been set aside for site visits to candidates’ places of employment by a smaller group of search committee members.

Evans starts his new job July 1.