The Authority is seeking a well-researched briefing memorandum (3 – 4 pages) that focuses on two key areas that help SPCSA schools uphold the commitments of organizational effectiveness and sound fiscal management

STATE OF NEVADA

BRIAN SANDOVAL

Governor PATRICK GAVIN

Executive Director

STATE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY

1749 North Stewart Street Suite 40

Carson City, Nevada 89706-2543 (775) 687 - 9174 · Fax: (775) 687 – 9113

A C T I O N ME MO R A N D U M

TO: Management Analyst IV Candidates

FROM: Mark Modrcin, Director of Authorizing

SUBJECT: Interview and Performance Task

DATE: May 22, 2018

CC: Interview Team

Thank you for your interest in the Management Analyst IV position at the State Public Charter

School Authority (SPCSA). We are delighted to invite you to move forward in the application

process.

The Interview:

Authority staff will be contacting you very soon via a Doodle poll to schedule an interview.

Members of the interview team will include senior staff at the Authority. Due to the distance

between the northern and southern portions of the State, members of the interview team may

videoconference into the interview from another state office or from a remote site. It is important to

note that due to the limited availability of interview team members, it is likely that interviews will

be confined to a two or three day period.

The interviews will be conducted in both Las Vegas and Carson City, Nevada. Local candidates are

expected to interview on-site; candidates located out-of-state may interview via videoconference.

All candidates are requested to provide an updated application prior to the interview. Electronic

copies should be sent to [email protected] at least 48 hours prior to the interview.

The Performance Task:

As part of the applicant evaluation process, the Authority has designed a performance task that

relates to this position’s core responsibilities. The State Public Charter School Authority’s strategic

plan articulates a theory of action for advancing change that includes a commitment to raising

expectations for both the organizational effectiveness and fiscal management of sponsored schools.

This position will be a key contributor in the Authority’s ability to execute on this portion of the

theory of action.

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The Authority is seeking a well-researched briefing memorandum (3 – 4 pages) that focuses on two

key areas that help SPCSA schools uphold the commitments of organizational effectiveness and

sound fiscal management:

1) Recommendation(s) to enhance and improve the financial section of the current school

performance framework; and

2) Recommendation(s) for any modifications or new review protocols, checklists, site visits, or

other tools to be leveraged to effectively determine the organizational effectiveness of an

individual public charter school.

As you draft your memo, keep in mind that the SPCSA serves as both a sponsor (authorizer) of

public charter schools and serves as the Local Education Agency (LEA) for charter schools for

certain purposes. Stated another way, SPCSA must balance its role as both an authorizer and as a

LEA, which can limit the level of technical assistance (or support) the agency may provide to

schools in some instances.

Please ensure your recommendations highlight areas for improvement, either building upon current

metrics, creating new ones, or adding oversight protocols and processes. Include a detailed

rationale for proposed changes or additions. Recommendations should draw from the best practices

of leading charter authorizers around the country as well as your professional experiences. For

example, you might recommend that the SPCSA modify the unrestricted days cash on-hand metric

to a fund balance measure as a percentage of total revenues. This calculation is often easier to

calculate and understand, and provides a proxy for unrestricted days cash.

A copy of the current SPCSA performance framework can be found here.

Your final memo should be emailed to [email protected] at least forty-eight hours prior to

your interview to allow the interview team time to review your recommendation.

Additionally, you are requested to deliver a 10 – 12 minute presentation on your recommendation(s)

to the interview panel. The format and structure of your presentation is completely up to you.

However, if you are interviewing in person, you are asked to bring any electronic materials you will

need for your presentation (e.g. PowerPoint) to the interview on a thumb drive. A computer will be

provided. Members of the interview team will ask questions related to your recommendation(s)

following the presentation.

If you are participating in the interview remotely, you will be required to deliver your presentation

remotely using the share screen feature of the Lifesize videoconferencing software.

Please do not hesitate to reach out should to me, via email, should you have any questions. I look

forward to meeting you soon.

Best Regards,

Mark Modrcin

[email protected]