A community advisory committee that will help pick Morgan Hill
School District
’s new superintendent will likely be made up of 15 members,
seven of whom will be invited to participate by School Board
trustees. District employee groups will also have representatives
on the committee. The district will hold two community forums next
week to gather public opinion on what the pr
ofile of the new superintendent should look like.
A community advisory committee that will help pick Morgan Hill School District’s new superintendent will likely be made up of 15 members, seven of whom will be invited to participate by School Board trustees.
District employee groups will also have representatives on the committee.
The district will hold two community forums next week to gather public opinion on what the profile of the new superintendent should look like.
During Monday’s regular School Board meeting, trustees, who will make the final decision, tossed around various ideas about the composition of the committee, which is part of a plan by RJ Gatti Associates to find a new superintendent for the district.
“We need to remember why we’re doing this,” Board President Shellé Thomas said Monday night. “We are not only looking for input but to foster relationships … This committee could also be an asset for the candidate, an opportunity now to size up the community … But there is no recommendation, this committee is only here to assist the board with input about the candidates.”
In addition, there is also a survey on the district’s website, www.mhu.k12.ca.us, under “Breaking news,” and on The Times website, www.morganhilltimes.com. A hard copy downloaded may be mailed to: Superintendent Search, Morgan Hill School District, 156000 Concord Circle, Morgan Hill 95037.
A survey form may also be requested by email: ju****@mh*.us. The surveys must be returned by 5pm Jan. 21.
Superintendent Carolyn McKennan’s current contract, which exceeds $170,000, expires June 30.
According to Thomas, the committee will interview the final candidates and will individually give their written opinion of each.
“That’s my understanding, from the discussion with the Gattis,” she said. “I understand the committee will not make a recommendation as a whole or rank the candidates.”
Trustees said they wanted as fair a representation of the community on the committee as possible, but Trustee Julia Hover-Smoot reminded the board that no matter how large the committee is, everyone who has an interest in the district probably cannot be represented.
“We need to recognize that we are never going to represent all the people in the community on this committee,” she said. “I believe, though, that we need plenty of parents. That is, after all, who we are serving.”
Thomas said Rudi Gatti recommended a maximum of 18 people on the committee; trustees discussed inviting 12 or 14 people to participate.
They expressed a concern that with a larger group, it would be difficult to make progress.
McKennan pointed out that if the committee does not have to come to a consensus to make a recommendation, trustees could consider a larger number.
Trustees tentatively agreed to a committee composed of two members of each of the district’s employee groups – Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers (MHFT) and Morgan Hill Educational Leaders Association (MHELA) – plus one community member to be invited by each trustee and one student.
By consensus, trustees agreed there would be no spot reserved on the committee for the City of Morgan Hill to fill, but that a trustee could invite, as his or her choice, a city representative.
Thomas said the committee, though it will have a limited scope, is important not only for the input members will provide but also as a vehicle for communicating with the community.
RJ Gatti Associates has proposed an agressive timeline for their search, with final selection of one candidate and approval by the board scheduled for April. The firm is charging the district $14,900 plus expenses of $2,231 to lead the search for McKennan’s successor.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 ext. 202
