RFP #BOE0911 - 2027 Superintendent Search Firm

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FROM SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FIRMS OR INDIVIDUALS
Superintendent of Schools Search - Fiscal Year 2027
Proposal Due Date: September 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Detailed proposal information is available at www.parkhill.k12.mo.us under Requests for
Proposals.
Prepared by: Park Hill School District
Park Hill School District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive informalities or
irregularities in any proposal.
Contents
Contents ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Section 1: Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 3
Section 2: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3
Section 3: Description of Park Hill School District .......................................................................... 3
The Board of Education ............................................................................................................. 4
Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (2026-2031) ............................................................ 4
Park Hill School District Mission ............................................................................................ 4
Park Hill School District Vision............................................................................................... 4
Park Hill School District Core Values ..................................................................................... 4
Park Hill School District Demographics ..................................................................................... 4
Park Hill School District - A History of Excellence ...................................................................... 5
Section 4: Scope of Work ............................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Advisory Services to the Board of Education ......................................................................... 6
4.2 Generation of Position Description and Qualifications ......................................................... 7
4.3 Identification and Assessment of Candidates ...................................................................... 7
4.4 Assisting the Board of Education with Prescreening Candidates ........................................... 7
4.5 Assisting with Logistics of Finalist Interviews ....................................................................... 7
4.6 Ensuring a Satisfactory Conclusion to the Search................................................................. 7
4.7 Structured Community and Stakeholder Engagement .......................................................... 7
4.8 Independent Due Diligence and Candidate Vetting............................................................... 8
4.9 Confidentiality .................................................................................................................... 8
Section 5: Proposal Requirements ................................................................................................ 8
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5.1 Cover Page ......................................................................................................................... 8
5.2 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 8
5.3 Experience and Qualifications ............................................................................................. 8
5.4 Work Plan ........................................................................................................................... 8
5.5 Cost ................................................................................................................................... 9
5.6 References ......................................................................................................................... 9
5.7 Contract Form .................................................................................................................... 9
5.8 Litigation Record ................................................................................................................. 9
5.9 Ensuring Client Satisfaction ................................................................................................ 9
5.10 Additional Information ...................................................................................................... 9
Section 6: Timeline for this Request for Proposal ......................................................................... 10
Section 7: Submission Details .................................................................................................... 10
Section 8: General Conditions .................................................................................................... 11
8.1 Qualifications of Search Firm or Individual ......................................................................... 11
8.2 Method of Award ............................................................................................................... 11
8.3 Evaluation Criteria and Weighting ...................................................................................... 11
8.4 Additional Conditions ....................................................................................................... 11
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Section 1: Purpose
The Park Hill School District Board of Education seeks proposals from experienced search firms or
individuals to provide consulting services for a search for a Superintendent of Schools, consistent
with Board Policy CBB (Recruitment and Appointment of the Superintendent).
Section 2: Introduction
The Park Hill School District Board of Education is beginning a national search for a highly qualified
Superintendent of Schools, with the goal that the selected candidate begin work on July 1, 2027.
The Board seeks to retain a search firm or individual with demonstrated success in superintendent
recruitment and the ability to support a governance-led process grounded in the district's mission,
vision, core values, and Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
The current Superintendent has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2027. The Board
intends to conduct a thoughtful, inclusive, and well-structured search that honors Park Hill's
record of excellence while identifying the leadership needed to advance the district's next chapter.
Section 3: Description of Park Hill School District
The Park Hill School District is a high-performing public school system located in Platte County in
the northwest portion of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The district encompasses
approximately 73 square miles and serves a suburban community of more than 80,000 residents,
including portions of Kansas City, Parkville, Riverside, Platte Woods, Weatherby Lake, Lake
Waukomis, Houston Lake, Northmoor, and unincorporated Platte County. Its location near Kansas
City International Airport, major interstate corridors, and the region's employment and cultural
centers provides the accessibility and opportunities of a major metropolitan area while preserving
strong neighborhood and community identities.
Park Hill serves approximately 11,400 students in kindergarten through grade 12. The district
operates 12 elementary schools, four middle schools, and two comprehensive high schools, as
well as LEAD Innovation Studio, a project-based high school program available to students from
both high schools. Additional programs and facilities support early childhood education, students
with intensive social-emotional and behavioral needs, before- and after-school care, community
education, athletics, and other specialized services. Angeline Washington Elementary School, the
district's newest school, opened in August 2025 as part of the district's long-range approach to
enrollment and facility planning.
Park Hill benefits from a strong local financial base, well-maintained facilities, and a community
that has consistently demonstrated support for its public schools. Recent voter-approved
operating and bond measures have provided resources for competitive employee compensation,
educational programs, facility improvements, and long-term capital needs.
The next superintendent will lead an established and highly regarded district as it advances its
mission of preparing each student for success in life; responds to changing student needs and
continued community development; recruits, retains, and supports an exceptional workforce; and
aligns district resources and decisions with the Board's strategic priorities.
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The Board of Education
Governed by a seven-member Board of Education, the district is committed to keeping students at
the center of each decision, providing inclusive educational opportunities, exercising responsible
stewardship, pursuing continuous improvement, and engaging transparently with staff, families,
and the broader community.
The Board of Education uses the district's approved Comprehensive School Improvement Plan as
the framework for governance, priority setting, resource allocation, and monitoring district
performance. The CSIP and the district's Drivers and Narratives connect Board policy and oversight
to student outcomes, community engagement, access, inclusion, equity, and belonging.
Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (2026-2031)
Grounded in Park Hill's mission, vision, and core values, the 2026-2031 CSIP translates the Board's
strategic direction into three objectives: Academics - implement the Park Hill teaching and learning
model, through which students learn by experience and inquiry; Culture - create an environment in
which all members of the Park Hill community feel a sense of belonging; and Systems - maximize
human and financial resources and address aging facilities to remove barriers to learning. The
selected firm must help the Board translate these commitments into the leadership profile,
recruitment strategy, candidate evaluation criteria, and search process.
Park Hill School District Mission
Through the expertise of an engaged staff, the Park Hill School District provides a relevant
education in a safe, caring environment to prepare each student for success in life.
Park Hill School District Vision
Building successful futures...each student...every day!
Park Hill School District Core Values
* Visionary Leadership
* Integrity
* Student Focus
* High Expectations
* Continuous Improvement
* Equity
Park Hill School District Demographics
Park Hill School District serves approximately 11,800 students in prekindergarten through grade 12
across 21 attendance sites in Platte County, Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The district employs roughly 2,000 people and administers an annual budget of approximately $250
million.
Prekindergarten-grade 12 enrollment has remained within a range of roughly 2 percent over four
years, from 11,967 students in 2023-2024 to approximately 11,780 students in fall 2026, with a
modest decline beginning in 2025-2026. Park Hill is neither a rapid-growth district nor a district
experiencing significant decline.
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Beneath that stability, entering cohorts are smaller than graduating ones: at the most recent
official count, kindergarten numbered 766 against a graduating class of 947. Elementary
enrollment is declining while high school holds steady, so today's total is supported by larger
cohorts still moving through the secondary grades. Long-range enrollment, facility, and staffing
planning is an active area of work.
The student population is diversifying steadily. Students identifying as White fell from 63.5 percent
of K-12 enrollment in 2023-24 to 59.7 percent currently, roughly 1.3 points per year, with every
other group holding or growing. Over 70 languages are spoken among our student population.
Composition is changing faster than the headline count suggests.
Free or reduced-price meal participation has held between 28 and 30 percent and IEP enrollment
between 10.4 and 11.0 percent, while English language learner enrollment has grown by nearly a
quarter in two years - the clearest sustained trend. Gifted identification rose following adoption of
a broader identification protocol, a change in practice rather than in the student population.
As of September 2, 2026, K-12 enrollment stood at 11,393, slightly above the district's budget
projection. Missouri's official enrollment count date for 2026-2027 is September 30, 2026.
Park Hill School District - A History of Excellence
Park Hill's reputation is bolstered by strong public support and strong performance. The school
district has many elements that shine, all helping build successful futures for each student, every
day.
Organizational performance excellence. Park Hill received the Missouri Quality Award in 2009
and again in 2015, becoming the first public school district in the state to earn it twice. In 2023, the
district earned the Quality Texas Foundation Regional Program's Highest Level of Quality Award,
the first K-12 public school district to receive that regional distinction in twelve years. Both
recognitions evaluate organizational management as a whole - leadership, strategy, workforce,
operations, and results - rather than any single program.
Board governance. The Board of Education earned the Missouri School Boards' Association
(MSBA) Governance Team Award in 2024, 2025, and 2026. MSBA presents the award to the board
and superintendent together as a governance team, and its criteria are demanding: full state
accreditation, completion of MSBA board member certification by all seven members, members
earning Advanced, Master and Distinguished certification, and documented participation in
statewide leadership and legislative advocacy for public education. The award reflects a board that
invests deliberately in its own capacity to govern.
Academic outcomes. In the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Park Hill High School
and Park Hill South High School were the top two traditional public high schools on the Missouri
side of the Kansas City metropolitan area, ranking tenth and twelfth in the state respectively.
Financial stewardship. The district has received the Meritorious Budget Award from the
Association of School Business Officials International for eighteen consecutive years, beginning
with the 2007-2008 budget and most recently for fiscal year 2025-2026. That record spans multiple
superintendents and boards of education and reflects a commitment to transparent financial
reporting rather than the practice of any one administration.
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A well-rounded program. Park Hill thrives on a sense of belonging for its students, staff and
community. The district consistently nurtures National Merit Semi-Finalists and Finalists, perfect
ACT scores, Jimmy Awards performing arts winners, a "Best Communities for Music Education,"
state champions in debate and athletics, and more. The district commits to supporting students of
all backgrounds and abilities, instituting academic programming and classroom cultures designed
to create high trust, low stress environments.
Additionally, Park Hill cultivates employees who are leaders in their field. From presidents of
national educational organizations to leaders in our state organizations, Park Hill encourages
employees to serve in the community and beyond.
Taken together, these elements describe a district with stable governance, disciplined financial
management, strong academic results, and a place that nurtures students and staff.
Section 4: Scope of Work
The Park Hill School District Board of Education will work with the selected search firm or individual
to develop and carry out a Superintendent of Schools search process aligned with the Board's
governance responsibilities and strategic direction. At a minimum, the selected firm or individual
must provide the following services:
4.1 Advisory services to the Board of Education
4.2 Generation of the position description and qualifications
4.3 Identification and assessment of candidates
4.4 Assisting the Board of Education with prescreening candidates
4.5 Assisting with the logistics of finalist interviews
4.6 Ensuring a satisfactory conclusion to the search
4.7 Designing and facilitating structured community and stakeholder engagement
4.8 Conducting independent due diligence and candidate vetting
4.9 Maintaining confidentiality throughout the search
Recognizing that discretion is essential to both Park Hill School District and prospective
candidates, the search firm must appropriately safeguard confidential information throughout the
search, including candidate identities and application materials. All work products produced under
a contract with Park Hill School District will remain the property of the district.
4.1 Advisory Services to the Board of Education
Develop a search plan and timeline in consultation with the Board of Education at an introductory
planning meeting scheduled shortly after the firm is engaged (see Section 6).
Assist with the evaluation and interviewing of potential candidates.
Ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements, including the Missouri Sunshine Law (
610.021, RSMo) governing closed sessions for personnel and job-applicant matters.
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Provide concise and timely communications regarding decisions, progress, risks, and deadlines
throughout the search.
4.2 Generation of Position Description and Qualifications
The selected search firm or individual will interview and solicit input from Board of Education
members, district staff, students, families, community leaders, and the public to develop the
qualifications and criteria used to evaluate candidates. The leadership profile and evaluation
criteria must reflect the district's mission, vision, core values, and 2026-2031 CSIP objectives of
Academics, Culture, and Systems. The Board seeks a leader with demonstrated success in
improving academic outcomes; recruiting, retaining, and supporting high-quality staff; serving
diverse student and staff populations; strengthening belonging and community engagement; and
exercising sound financial, operational, and facilities stewardship.
4.3 Identification and Assessment of Candidates
Develop and distribute recruitment materials that will encourage qualified candidates to apply.
Conduct a national search that includes advertising the position broadly and generating interest
among qualified candidates.
Conduct personal outreach recruiting to ensure that the applicant pool includes highly qualified
candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Collect all relevant background information on potential candidates so that the strengths and
weaknesses of each applicant can be assessed.
Report to the Board on the size, qualifications, and diversity of the applicant pool at agreed
checkpoints in the search.
4.4 Assisting the Board of Education with Prescreening Candidates
Based on clearly delineated criteria, assist the Board of Education in evaluating applicants against
the qualifications and criteria developed, to create a group of candidates for interviews.
4.5 Assisting with Logistics of Finalist Interviews
Facilitate visits by the Board of Education to the communities of the finalists.
Facilitate finalist interviews and, as directed by the Board, forums or other structured engagement
opportunities for staff and the public.
4.6 Ensuring a Satisfactory Conclusion to the Search
Assist the Board of Education in contract negotiations with the selected candidate.
4.7 Structured Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Design and facilitate a structured input process involving staff (by role), students, families, and
community and business partners through focus groups and an online survey. Synthesize the
resulting input into a written leadership profile aligned with the district's mission, vision, core
values, and CSIP. (In FY2022, this process involved approximately 10 stakeholder groups
participating in 19 sessions, as well as an online survey.)
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4.8 Independent Due Diligence and Candidate Vetting
Provide a written vetting matrix covering: identity and work authorization; degrees and licenses
verified directly with the issuing institutions; complete employment, litigation, and discipline
history; criminal background checks with defined look-back periods and jurisdictions; and
references beyond the candidate's own list. The firm supports, but does not replace, the Board's
own duty of due diligence.
4.9 Confidentiality
Describe and maintain a protocol that protects candidate and process confidentiality throughout
the search, including secure handling of candidate information and disciplined communications
with the media and the public.
Section 5: Proposal Requirements
To allow the Board of Education to fairly judge the merits of each proposal, responses to this
Request for Proposal shall include a response to each of the items listed below. The Board of
Education reserves the right to reject proposals that do not follow this format.
Questions, requests for interpretation, and the district's addenda process are addressed once, in
Section 7 (Submission Details).
5.1 Cover Page
Include the completed cover page (the last page of this RFP), signed by a person authorized to act
on behalf of the search firm or individual submitting the proposal.
5.2 Executive Summary
Provide a summary that demonstrates your understanding of the scope of services required by the
Park Hill School District and why your firm is best able to provide that scope of service.
5.3 Experience and Qualifications
Provide an overview of the firm or individual (address, telephone, e-mail; local, regional, or
national; which office will provide services; areas of expertise); the project team (names, titles,
contact information, availability, and any conflicts); and each team member's experience,
education, specialties, and number of Superintendent searches. Note the longevity of
superintendents placed by this team or firm over the past six years and describe any noteworthy
accomplishments of those placed.
5.4 Work Plan
Describe your approach to each activity in Section 4; how you will support a seven-member elected
Board of Education in a governance-led search; how you will translate the district's mission, vision,
core values, and CSIP into the leadership profile and candidate evaluation process; how you will
identify prospective candidates and cultivate their interest; your approach to community
engagement, both to develop the initial profile and to gather input on finalists; the major challenges
to a successful search and how you will address them; a reasonable timeline for the search; the
information and assistance you will need from the Board and staff; and recent examples of internal
and client-facing process improvements that increased client satisfaction.
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5.5 Cost
Provide a budget covering all work described in Section 4 and the Work Plan, with a breakdown by
scope section; estimated team hours and fees; travel; publishing and advertising; postage and
distribution; and other expenses. The proposal must include a maximum (not-to-exceed) price and
payment terms.
The proposal must also include a warranty that, should the new Superintendent of Schools resign
or be released for cause within the first 24 months of commencing duties, the search firm will
conduct another search at no professional fee to the district, except for travel, publishing,
advertising, and postage/distribution expenses.
5.6 References
Provide a minimum of three school districts (of comparable size, student composition, and
academic quality to Park Hill, if possible) that have used your services for a Superintendent of
Schools search within the past six years, including contact information and the scope, length, and
dollar value of each engagement.
5.7 Contract Form
If you intend to propose a form of professional services contract, provide a sample. If you prefer
that the district generate the contract, please indicate.
5.8 Litigation Record
Disclose any litigation or material client dispute within the past five years, including the parties,
date, jurisdiction or authority, nature, status, and outcome of each matter.
5.9 Ensuring Client Satisfaction
Describe your philosophy and policies regarding client satisfaction in the event of an unsuccessful
search.
5.10 Additional Information
Provide any additional information or recommended modifications to the procedures specified
herein under this heading.
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Section 6: Timeline for this Request for Proposal
The following schedule governs this solicitation. Park Hill School District may revise the schedule
by written addendum posted on the district's Requests for Proposals webpage. Dates associated
with the subsequent superintendent search will be established with the selected firm and
approved by the Board, as appropriate.
Milestone Date
Staff posts RFP within a Board Action Item - Open to Public September 9, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Board approval of RFP - Superintendent Search Firm September 10, 2026
Board Meeting - Action Item
RFP issued and posted September 11, 2026
Last day for firm questions September 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CDT
Addenda posted September 24, 2026
Proposals due September 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CDT
Selection of firm finalists October 8, 2026
Board Meeting (closed session)
Interviews with firm finalists October 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CDT
Special Meeting (Open Session)
Board selects firm Tentative
October 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CDT
Special Meeting - Action Item
Initial Planning session with selected firm November 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Board Work Session
Section 7: Submission Details
Submit seven complete printed copies in a sealed package to the address below. Clearly mark the
package "Superintendent Search RFP - Do Not Open." Also submit one complete digital copy in
Adobe PDF format. Both the printed copies and the digital file must be received no later than the
date and time stated in Section 6.
Direct proposals and written questions to Tina Freeman, Secretary to the Board of Education, Park
Hill School District, 7703 NW Barry Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64153.
Direct email inquiries to Tina Freeman, freemant@parkhill.k12.mo.us.
Late proposals will not be accepted. The district is not responsible for carrier delays or non-
delivery; the date and time recorded by the district will constitute the official time of receipt.
Questions and requests for interpretation must be received in writing by the deadline in Section 6.
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