New school superintendent wants to be part of a team
Even though he will not take the reins until July 1, new Morgan Hill School District Superintendent Alan Nishino already is rolling up his sleeves and is pleased about his new position.
His first job, Nishino said, will be obvious.
“Listen, listen and listen some more,” he said. “I want to get a feel for the community and the district, get a feel for things I want to focus on. Working with the board to decide what is important, what we think needs to be looked at immediately because we’re going to be a team.”
Nishino was quick to point out that his work with the Alameda School District is not finished, and that he will “belong to” that district until his contract there expires June 30.
“I’m giving all my staff all I can right now,” he said Monday. “I’m not involved with finding my replacement, don’t know if they’ll find an interim, but I want to make sure things are in good order for whoever comes in.”
Nishino is scheduled for another visit to Morgan Hill today.
“He’s excited, he’s proud to be associated with our district, with a board that wants to move education forward,” School Board President Shellé Thomas said Friday. “We feel we’re on the brink and let’s go forward. I like the enthusiasm.”
Current Superintendent Carolyn McKennan said Friday she is pleased to put the reins of the district in Nishino’s hands.
“He has been absolutely delightful in conversations we have had, and the bit of work we have done together, I have been very impressed,” she said. “I have talked with him, sharing information about the district, he will call and chat about this and that. It is nice to think I’ll be leaving the district to someone who is so sincere and genuine.”
McKennan, who said she is looking at her options, does not yet have definite plans for the future.
“I have lines in water, but I haven’t pulled any in,” she said. “Right now, I’m still focused on the business of this district.”
Nishino was hired after an extensive search led by RJ Gatti Associates, hired by the district for more than $14,000 plus expenses. Community forums and extensive interviews with members of the community provided information which Rudi and Janet Gatti used to create a profile and a brochure for the position.
Applications for the position were then solicited; 21 were received. Board members narrowed the list down to six candidates who were invited for an interview by the board and by a community advisory committee made up of district employees, community representatives and two students.
The list was narrowed to three, who were invited back for a second interview; trustees elected to pay a one-day visit to Nishino’s Alameda School District, then unanimously decided to offer him the position, contingent upon successful contract negotiations.
Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers President Donna Foster, who was a member of the advisory committee, said Friday she is pleased with the decision to hire Nishino.
“I am looking forward to working with him,” she said. “I think we will be able to establish a very positive working relationship. I was impressed with him in our interview, even though we only saw him for an hour.”
Despite reports of poor communication with the teachers’ union in Alameda, Foster said she believes they can work well together.
“He discussed the realities of negotiation, he knew about interest-based bargaining,” she said, adding that the concept involves working toward a common goal. “He had good things to say. “I really do think he was able to resolve some very difficult problems not of his making, and he made some progress over the years … This is a new beginning for us; I welcome the change.”
School Board Trustee Mike Hickey used a sports analogy to describe Nishino.
“You would talk about someone like Nishino as an impact player,” Hickey said Friday. “That’s perhaps his greatest asset. As an impact player, I think he will come in and make a difference right away. His resume speaks for itself, but what I think is extremely important is his desire to make a difference immediately. I believe the community will see his impact within his first year.”
Trustee Kathy Sullivan said Friday that Nishino isn’t wasting any time talking about building a relationship and common goals with his new board members.
“He’s already emailed that he will be getting in touch with all of us, as individuals and as a group, and that he’s interested in a workshop with all of us,” she said. “I’m sure that will happen. He, as well as all of us, is interested in having goals set up, realizing what our common goals are and setting that up so he’ll know what’s expected of him.”
Trustees held a workshop earlier this year which was facilitated by a member of the California School Boards Association who suggested that, when the new superintendent was hired, trustees arrange a similar workshop including the new superintendent.
Sullivan said she was impressed by Nishino’s manner in interviews and looks forward to working with him.
“He was very warm in one-to-one interviews,” she said. “While I was very impressed by his paper background, I enjoyed meeting him in person. And he has a proven track record. He really understands financial matters, he is a strong negotiators, he had taken a like district and turned its money matters around … He understands finances as well as curriculum.”
Trustee Amina Khemici said she, too, was impressed with his manner.
“He’s very humble, and he doesn’t play favorites, especially among his staff,” she said, noting that this was obvious during the trustees’ visit to Alameda. “But number one for me is his passion for the students, his advocacy for the students … And with the upcoming development in Coyote Valley, I don’t worry because I think we have a really strong leader to take us through that.”
Trustee Peter Mandel said he also believes Nishino will be a good leader for the district.
“I am confident that Dr. Nishino will focus on what’s best for success for kids,” he said Friday. “His record of proven leadership in areas like personnel, finance, instruction and construction will enable him to quickly become effective … What his also good at is listening to the board, to teachers, to classified workers, to administration and the community and bringing us all into the decision making process. I believe in the beginning, he will do a lot of listening, start to build a rapport with the board.”
Trustee Don Moody said he is looking forward to bringing Nishino into the budgeting process.
“I am anxious to get him involved fiscally,” he said. “He is fiscally conservative – as I am. I believe he’s going to be great for us in that respect. Initially, I think his level of experience – this will be his third position as a superintendent – will be especially important. I think he will be able to hit the ground running. He should be able to see with his experienced eye where he needs to focus his attention.
“He also has a great track record on increasing API scores. I hate to put a handle on any school, but we need a means to measure, and that is as good as any. He has seen the increase of API scores in all the schools in his district. Some of our families are getting a little anxious about the scores in their schools, and I think he’ll focus on that.”
McKennan’s contract, which currently gives her a total pay package of $193,000, expires June 30. If McKennan and the board had opted to renew her contract, the pay package would total $198,000. She did not seek renewal.
Nishino’s contract gives him a total pay package of $212,700.
Trustee Julia Hover-Smoot was out of the country and unable to be reached for comment.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at
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