Two metro-area school boards are at work on the same job — finding and hiring a new superintendent.
As Omaha Public Schools seeks a successor to John Mackiel, who retires in August, Westside will fill the vacancy being left by the retirement of Jacquie Estee. That decision could come soon.
It is hard to imagine two more important decisions for Omaha's future.
Each superintendent's job is different; each has its own special demands. But each new superintendent likely will share many qualifications.
Westside school board members last autumn zeroed in on some critical qualities they wanted to see in their next superintendent: Someone committed to students; someone respectful of the district's traditions and culture; and a leader able to delegate so that he or she can carve out time to serve as the face of the district.
The OPS consultant has recommended qualifications that include making high academic standards and student achievement the top priority, along with working well with a range of citizens, including parents, nonprofit groups and the business community. The consultant also recommended finding a candidate who will be in Omaha for the long haul.
Both sets of qualifications are solid. And many are nearly interchangeable for either of these key jobs.
The same can be said about the importance of the work being done by the two school boards.
As they narrow their searches and approach their decisions, each board's members will need to exercise statesmanship and keep the good of the students, the districts and the taxpayers at the forefront of their considerations.
As we have said before, there's little that means more to Omaha's future than the education of our children. These will be two strategic hires, jobs with impact that extends well beyond the schoolhouse doors.
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