Superintendent John Cain.

The South Tama County Board of Education left its latest meeting without selecting a firm to lead its upcoming superintendent search after disagreement among board members and two absences prevented a motion to approve Grundmeyer Leader Services from moving forward.

The board had previously reviewed proposals from four firms interested in helping South Tama find a successor to Superintendent John Cain, who plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Grundmeyer Leader Services, Hazard Young Attea and Associates, McPherson & Jacobson, and Ray and Associates each submitted materials for consideration. Following the previous meeting, board members were asked to independently review and rank the four firms before returning with their preferences.

During his superintendent report, Cain said the collective rankings produced a recommendation that aligned with the board’s responses.

“We have a recommendation for tonight, it matches what you guys chose,” Cain said.

STC Board of Education Director Joe Hanus.

Board member Rick Hopper said he completed his rankings before seeing how the rest of the board had evaluated the firms.

“We ranked these and tried to give what we thought, who was the best one,” Hopper said.

Hopper also said cost factored into his preference for Grundmeyer, noting the firm’s proposal was roughly $3,000 less than the next-lowest alternative.

When the search returned later in the meeting as an action item, Cain recommended Grundmeyer Leader Services to facilitate the district’s superintendent search.

Board member Joe Hanus, however, was unwilling to support a firm that did not match his own ranking.

“I’m not trying to be difficult. I rated them the way I rated them and just not going to go against the way I scored them out,” Hanus said.

Cain pointed out that Grundmeyer had emerged as the collective favorite among the board’s submitted rankings.

“We have three board members that have indicated Grundmeyer would be their number one,” Cain said. “So if they would be present, they would vote as well, but you’re willing to delay it a few weeks.”

Only Board President Elizabeth Dolezal, Hopper and Hanus were physically present for the discussion. Board members Michael Avis and Danya Keahna were absent.

“Unfortunately we’re missing two board members,” Cain said.

With only three members at the table, Hanus’ unwillingness to second a motion supporting Grundmeyer stalled any further advancement. Dolezal raised the possibility of holding a special meeting to settle the issue rather than waiting until the next regular meeting on Oct. 5.

Cain then told the board he had reached out to Keahna, who was contacted by phone during the meeting and brought into the discussion.

Hopper then attempted to make a motion approving Grundmeyer Leader Services.

“It’s a little early,” Cain responded.

“He doesn’t want you to do it until he knows Danya is going to second it,” Hanus said.

Without a second, the motion could not move forward.

Keahna was then connected via Cain’s phone.

Dolezal explained that Grundmeyer had finished first when the board’s rankings were combined. Keahna had individually ranked Hazard Young Attea and Associates first, Grundmeyer second, McPherson & Jacobson third and Ray and Associates fourth.

Keahna asked why Hanus opposed moving forward with Grundmeyer.

Hanus said he had gone through the same process as the other board members and remained committed to the way he originally ranked the firms.

After further discussion, Keahna indicated she was not prepared to support Grundmeyer that evening.

The board ended the discussion without selecting a superintendent search firm. The board did not set a special meeting date during Monday’s session.