Cedar Springs — Superintendent Scott Smith has announced his plan to retire at the end of the calendar year, and the district is now asking the community to weigh in as it begins the search for a new leader.
Smith submitted his letter of retirement to the Cedar Springs Public Schools Board of Education at its June 22 meeting “with a profound mix of emotions,” he said.
“There are times in life when the decisions we make simultaneously break our hearts and mend our souls. This is one of those decisions for me,” the letter said in part.
“Sarah (Smith’s wife) and I have prayed extensively regarding this decision. We are both at peace knowing the District is well-positioned for continued success in the future and that there is another plan for me to follow.”
Smith joined Cedar Springs as superintendent in July 2018, a job he called “the opportunity of a lifetime … For that, I will forever be grateful.” He had previously served as assistant superintendent for Hudsonville Public Schools and held other positions in Hamilton and Holland public school districts.
Seeking Community Input
The district is working with the Michigan Association of School Boards to conduct its superintendent search. As a first step in the process, CSPS is asking for community feedback.
A community survey opened Monday and will be available through 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. The survey asks for feedback in identifying skills and personal attributes that people want to see in the next superintendent. This input will be shared with the board to help them create a profile of the ideal candidate.
The district is also planning to hold community listening sessions facilitated by the MASB Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the district office, 204 E. Muskegon St. NE. These sessions will be an opportunity to share in-person feedback about qualities the community would like to see in the district’s next leader, which will be used to help guide the board through the search process.
Parents and community members are invited to take part at the 8 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. sessions; a session exclusively for students will be at 2:15 p.m. Teachers, staff, union members and other stakeholders will be invited to separate sessions that day.
According to a tentative search timeline, the board plans to open applications Aug. 25 and meet to determine which candidates to interview Oct. 5. A first round of interviews will take place on or around Oct. 12, and the board hopes to have a decision made later that month.
Smith’s last day in the district will be Dec. 31, and the new superintendent is expected to assume the role Jan. 1, 2027.
For more information on the search, visit the district’s superintendent search website, which includes the full listening session schedule, a copy of the job description and a link to the community survey. Further questions may be emailed to MASB consultant Mark Dobias at mr.dobias@gmail.com.
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