The San Benito High School Teachers Association and the school board last week worked out an agreement to include teachers, staff members, parents and residents in the superintendent search – after the union initially accused trustees of shutting them out of the process.
“We are thrilled and honored to be included in the process. We look forward to assisting the school board in selecting someone to fill this key role in both our school district and our community,” said Katherine Foster, president of the teachers union, in an email. “We thank the board for valuing our input and wish them success in finding the right person for the job.”
The search is led by consulting firm Dave Long & Associates, with adviser Laura Alvarenga overseeing the effort.
In June of last year, then-Superintendent Stan Rose left his post to become superintendent at the Santa Clara County Unified School District. Rose had been at the job for seven years before leaving. His replacement, Interim Superintendent Mike Robustelli, took over soon after. The school board since opened one search for a superintendent only to close it after a few months.
The newest search could result in a new superintendent being installed by July 1, Alvarenga said. She said officials hope to close the search process by Feb. 7 with interviews held Feb. 28 and March 1. Robustelli, meanwhile, is scheduled to step down Jan. 31. Dr. William Barr, a former superintendent in Monterey County, is set to serve until July 1.
There will be a committee made up of teachers, administrators and other residents, including members of the San Benito High School Teachers Association. The committee will have eight people recommended by the school board. Candidates will first meet with the committee and will then meet with the school board.
“Please understand that has to come from the school board,” Alvarenga said.
She said the school board welcomes input from the community, and Robustelli echoed those remarks.
“At this point, the San Benito High School board has asked the community to interact with the search committee to give them input,” he said.
He said there are “many ways to skin a cat” but the board would have interest in receiving community input.
“My impression is that the school board really wants to understand the ranks of the community,” Alvarenga said.
Evelyn Muro, the president of the San Benito High School Board of Trustees, said the board is looking for somebody with “strong academic credentials.”
“We want someone who is interested in academically moving our students forward,” she said.
She said on Jan. 15, the school board had held a meeting with staff members and the community to hear input about the selection process but she said only three people showed up.
“I would have thought there would be more interest paid,” she said.
The school board chooses the parameters and has the final word on the hire, Alvarenga said.
“The school board selects which they would like to prefer,” she said.
She said she wants to hear from the public about the search. She is accepting emails at la*************@ao*.com as well as written comments. Anything in writing should be addressed to: Laura D. Alvarenga, Ed.D., Advisor, c/o Barbara Luther, San Benito High School District, 1220 Monterey St., Room #130, Hollister, CA 95023.
