The Beaverton School District 48J Board of Directors voted unanimously Sept. 26 to hire Human Capital Enterprises to conduct the district's superintendent search, the board said at a special meeting that began at 5:45 p.m.

A three-member superintendent search committee reviewed proposals, interviewed three finalist firms and compiled board member feedback before recommending Human Capital Enterprises, committee representative Carrie Delf said. The committee scored proposals and board interview responses, and Human Capital Enterprises led each tally.

The committee rated proposals on a 100-point scale; Human Capital Enterprises averaged 91.7 points, McPherson and Jacobson averaged 85.3, and Ray and Associates averaged 85.0. Board-member interview feedback was scored on a 34-point scale and averaged 28.4 for Human Capital Enterprises, 25.5 for McPherson and Jacobson and 23.4 for Ray and Associates. When board members' ranked preferences were converted into a simple points system (two points for first choice, one for second, zero for third), Human Capital Enterprises earned 12.5 points, McPherson and Jacobson 5.5 and Ray and Associates 3.

"After about 24 hours after meeting yesterday and interviewing three search firms, the superintendent search committee met to review all of the feedback that board members had compiled," Carrie Delf said, summarizing the committee's review and the evaluation matrix used to compare firms.

A board member moved that the district select Human Capital Enterprises "to provide executive search services to assist the district in the recruitment and selection of its next superintendent, subject to negotiations and execution of contract terms acceptable to the district." Another board member seconded the motion. The board then voted, with all seven members saying "aye." The motion passed 7-0.

Board members and staff discussed next steps. District staff said they would begin contract negotiations immediately and aim to have a contract in place within days to a week. Carrie Delf told the board that, because the expected contract amount is below the district's $250,000 formal-approval threshold, the board will not be required to formally approve the contract line-item details; however, contracts are public records and a copy can be provided to board members.

Board members also asked about confidentiality and the difference between public and closed sessions during the search process. Delf clarified that interviews of superintendent candidates will occur in executive session and remain confidential until finalists are presented, but the selection of a search firm and interviews of firms are public meetings.

The superintendent search committee plans an initial planning meeting with the search firm and will schedule a follow-up update for the board at its regular meeting on Oct. 14, where the district will report on the search timeline and next steps.

Votes at a glance: Motion to hire Human Capital Enterprises for executive search services, subject to negotiation and contract terms acceptable to the district ' Passed, 7-0.

(Details recorded in the meeting transcript: committee proposal scores, board interview scores, ranked preferences, the motion text and unanimous vote.)