Dos Palos school board hires firm to search for next superintendent
The Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School District governing board voted Thursday to hire Educational Leadership Services to conduct the search for a new superintendent.
Jack Mayer, formerly a superintendent in Turlock, is serving as interim superintendent after Brian Walker agreed to a settlement package with the district last month. Walker ended his contract one month early after a performance review. The settlement agreement totaled nearly $280,000.
During his superintendent’s report at Thursday’s regular board meeting, Mayer said it was clear to him that everyone working for the district cared deeply about their jobs and students. “It’s a good district but, clearly, it could get better,” he said, noting there’s always room for improvement.
Mayer, board President Joe Castillo and board member Bill Van Worth interviewed four firms Monday.
The interview panel liked Educational Leadership Services, an Oakdale firm that specializes in helping school boards find superintendents, because one of its consultants led a small Central Valley school district. John Cruz, an executive search consultant for the firm, was superintendent at Fowler Unified School District in Fresno County for 16 years.
The board unanimously approved the firm. The district’s contract with Educational Leadership Services is for $13,600.
Mayer said the district hopes to find a superintendent by spring, but it may take longer.
“My goal is to make the district the best it can be in my short time here so that the new person, when he or she begins, the district is in a better place and better prepared to welcome them in,” Mayer said in his report.
Castillo said the firm will interview board members during a special meeting to understand what they are looking for in their next superintendent. Community members and the district’s stakeholders also will be involved in the process, he said.
This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Dos Palos school board hires firm to search for next superintendent."