LIBERTY — The Liberty Board of Education has a better understanding of its search for a new treasurer, thanks to a presentation Monday.

Members of the board listened as Kristine Robbins, a consultant for the Ohio School Boards Association, provided a timeline and noted potential problems in their search, which began following Maureen Lloyd’s departure to Girard City Schools in late August.

Robbins, who oversaw the district’s search for a superintendent last November, explained that they’re in one of the most challenging times of year for a search.

“Our recommendation typically is to get prepared for the search itself at this time, but to launch the search actually in the January time frame. That’s when the search season actually begins,” Robbins said. “You may get some qualified candidates now, but it’s likely that you would get more qualified candidates if you wait until that time frame in early January.”

Board President David Malone told Robbins that while he’d normally agree with her, he emphasized the need to fill the position quickly.

“The unfortunate reality is that we need to try to get somebody in place as soon as possible. Our time with our interim is limited,” Malone said. “We have a couple of options for additional interims, but nothing that could last us months into the future.”

Robbins questioned what major issues the district would be facing with any potential candidate.

Malone emphasized the importance of the candidate’s ability to strengthen the district’s financial profile, recalling Lloyd’s perseverance in keeping the district in the black after it came out of fiscal emergency in 2014.

“Maintaining (a) positive cash balance. I mean, this is a district that had some financial issues. When the previous treasurer came in, we had just come out of a fiscal emergency, and there was a lot of deficit spending that was done. She did a good job.”

The district has some levies coming up, so having a candidate who understands the process of how it goes on the ballot would be beneficial, he added.

Malone said their desire to have someone who had been a treasurer elsewhere was “not absolute,” and expressed a willingness to look at candidates with a business background, such as people who were controllers in the private industry.

Robbins left the board with a leadership profile questionnaire, which she expected back by the end of the week and expects to draft a brochure for them by Oct. 2.

After she receives feedback and it’s finalized, the position will be posted for four to six weeks. However, the board may close it earlier if they receive quality candidates earlier on.