Once the results of all appropriate screening, reference checking and interviewing has taken place, the board is ready to make its prayerful decision. Board members will have honest differences of opinion regarding who should be selected. Once the selection is made the entire board should stand behind that decision. It is also important not to settle for a candidate who seems to be the best among those interviewed, but who just is not right for your school. You might find yourself releasing a principal and going through this process again in twelve months time.
Timing is very important throughout the process.
Similar to hiring teachers, there is a window of time in which the school works toward identifying, interviewing and hiring a principal. Generally it is difficult, while not impossible, to find a principal after August 1. By that time most principals have made commitments to a school. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, you probably don t want to hire a person willing to break a commitment to a school that close to the start of a school year. That would only indicate the person would be willing to do that to your school.