The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees launched its search for a new superintendent late last month, hammering out a loose timeline, determining how the community will be involved and discussing the characteristics they want for a new leader.
The Aug. 30 discussion was the first in what will be a series of board meetings, public forums and closed-session interviews in the months-long process.
Glendora-based Leadership Associates, which the Trustees hired in July to lead the nationwide search, will now spend the next month seeking input from the community about their hopes for a new superintendent.
A timeline—subject to approval by the board at the Sept. 13 meeting—will be posted Friday on the district website.
Former Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez left in June. In her place, the trustees appointed former Watsonville High Principal Murry Schekman.
Once the timeline is approved, the search will begin with a series of community forums, and with seeking input from local governmental officials, nonprofits and other groups and organizations with an interest in PVUSD.
Once that is done, Leadership Associates will develop a job description based on the community input.
It is not yet clear when the search will yield a viable candidate. While some trustees were pushing for an expedited process, Trustee Georgia Acosta pointed out that Schekman is on a yearlong contract.
“I just don’t see the rush on that, going into the holiday season,” she said.
Eric Andrew of Leadership Associates predicts that the size of the district will attract several candidates.
“You’re a big district, so you’re going to get national attention,” he said.
The PVUSD Board of Trustees will meet at 7pm on Sept. 13 at the district headquarters at 292 Green Valley Road. For information, visit pvusd.net.
Why spend all that money on a national organization to hire an out-of-town person when we have plenty of qualified locals who can do the job. It would save money and honor someone local who knows our district and has put in the time and experience to do the job well. So sick of this waste of money. This is why I vote NO on tax increases for school district which wastes our tax dollars while always wanting more.