The Morgan Hill School District Board of Trustees this week
unanimously voted to hire Alan Nishino as our next superintendent,
effective July 1. The Board is extremely enthusiastic about Dr.
Nishino becoming part of our team and I
’d like to tell you why.
The Morgan Hill School District Board of Trustees this week unanimously voted to hire Alan Nishino as our next superintendent, effective July 1. The Board is extremely enthusiastic about Dr. Nishino becoming part of our team and I’d like to tell you why.
Prior to selecting candidates, the Board met to prioritize expectations for a new superintendent. We were fortunate to also receive a thorough and considered response from the community (via forums, questionnaires and an interview panel).
What we clearly heard was the need for a superintendent with proven expertise in many areas. We needed someone with solid financial expertise who would also raise the quality of education in our schools. Strong leadership, good communication skills and personal accountability were also given top priority. In addition, community members expressed concern about Coyote Valley development and the need for successful negotiations with San Jose.
When we looked at all potential candidates, we kept these requirements in mind. Dr. Nishino was the one candidate who stood out, with a proven track record of being both a strong financial leader and one who has shown concrete improvement in academic results. His current district has similar demographics to ours and, under his leadership, has shown strong API (academic performance) growth both in absolute scores and when compared with similar schools.
Dr Nishino’s ongoing passion is doing what is best for the kids. In all our discussions with him, his approach to curriculum, finance, technology and personnel, is based on what will benefit the education of the students. His management style is to be inclusive and listen to all the parties involved in a decision. His decisions are then made with the fundamental question in mind of what will contribute to the success of the kids.
On financial matters, Dr. Nishino has a reputation as a fiscally conservative leader, while also being effective at forming business alliances to bring in new revenue sources. He has taken a leadership role in successfully passing both construction bonds and parcel taxes. He is a strong negotiator and has dealt effectively with many developers and government agencies, ensuring quality schools were built as part of large-scale developments. He will be a formidable advocate for MHSD in our negotiations over Coyote Valley development and the need for schools.
On Tuesday, the Morgan Hill Times published an article focusing primarily on Dr. Nishino’s salary. Are we paying Dr. Nishino well? Absolutely. However, over the three-year term of his contract, it will cost us roughly as much as we would have paid our current superintendent in the same time period. In addition, Dr. Nishino’s contract is structured to only offer raises when district goals are achieved. I believe this structure reflects the increased accountability for results that the community has asked for.
With the many challenges facing our district, the question to be asked is not: “Can we afford to hire him?” Rather we all must ask: “Is hiring a leader of Dr. Nishino’s caliber and experience a wise investment for the future of our students?” I believe the answer is an unequivocal “Yes.”
