Firm hosts two community forums, meets with community leaders
for suggestions
The portrait of a new Morgan Hill School District superintendent is becoming more clear.
Last week, the search firm hired by trustees held two forums – one in Morgan Hill and the other in San Jose – and met with community leaders to get the process well under way.
Approximately 20 people gathered at Britton Middle School last week to let RJ Gatti Associates – Rudi and Janet Gatti – know what characteristics are important to them.
The first community forum was held the night before at Martin Murphy. Not as many people attended the initial session held at the middle school in the San Jose portion of the school district.
The forums, as well as two full days of meeting with various members of the community, have brought three specific characteristics to the forefront, she said.
The first is that the new superintendent be an instructional leader.
“A focus on an improvement in academics for all students,” Janet Gatti said. “A large part of the district’s population is Latino and may have second language challenges, there is a large population of students with special needs and students who take AP and honors classes.”
The second trait she sees is “someone who is visible in the community, in the schools, is warm, friendly and accessible.”
“Something else I see the community, the parents, the district employees want is integrity, honesty – someone who’s going to communicate,” she said.
It was also clear after the forums and meetings with community members that a common theme is someone who will build relationships, she said.
“They want someone who’s going to build relationships with community and with the city of Morgan Hill and the city of San Jose,” she said. “Someone who is going to keep the district represented in what’s going on in Coyote Valley.”
MHPD Lt. Joe Sampson said he was attending the Britton forum as a parent. His wife is a teacher in the district, and his daughter is an elementary student.
“Credibility is very important,” Sampson said. “One of the things I would like to see is a superintendent who can honestly and clearly provide information to the public. Teachers and the public will follow that person if they believe that person … If you make a mistake and people believe you, they will forgive you. There is no need for defensiveness or subterfuge.”
Britton Middle School Principal Russom Mesfun said the district needs a leader who will support and nurture district employees while reaching out to the community to take advantage of a willingness to be involved.
“Since you are looking for my boss, actually, I think I should have a say,” he said. “We need someone who is a passionate advocate for the kids. I want someone who respects teachers, nurtures teachers, someone who can come up with an equitable way of rewarding, an incentive. Our teachers work very hard and deserve to be respected. We need someone who is able to work in a collaborative way, in a common endeavor, engaging in a meaningful, not superficial, dialogue.
“I also think this community is aching for leadership now because we are in transition. There’s the potential for getting the community engaged in the education of children. We have not tapped into that resource.”
Mesfun said the new superintendent needs to be able to go about his or her business focusing on the district, not politics.
“I want a person who is a leader and not a follower,” he said. “A leader who is an advocate of children and capable of acting without being distracted by the politics of this community.”
Several district teachers attended the forum held at Britton. They talked about the need for a superintendent who is visible at the sites, gives direction, has integrity and is a good representative for the district with outside organizations and is willing to think creatively about financial issues.
“I do want to reiterate the financial ability,” said Julie Lucido, a district teacher on leave. “I think there is a lot of teacher burnout – you have a good idea, and you go talk to someone about it, and there’s no money. We need someone who can be creative and work with that, look for other funding, other solutions and not keep giving that pat answer.”
Dan Ehler, executive director of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce made it a point to get to the second forum on his way to the City Council meeting.
“I have been involved with chamber (for other cities) for over 18 years, and I’ve been a classroom teacher,” he said. “One of things I’ve experienced as chamber executive for several communities, is when the superintendent is accessible as much as possible but also encourages staff at the administrative level or classroom level to become engaged at chamber level educational programs … You need someone there at that position to encourage, to support, to become engaged in developing the kind of programs that will be meaningful in bringing business and education together.”
At the second forum last week were parents of students in the district, a handful of district teachers and community members.
Also at the second forum were School Board President Shellé Thomas and her husband, George Thomas, president of the Live Oak Foundation, plus Trustees Amina Khemici, Peter Mandel, Kathy Sullivan and Don Moody.
Representing the District Office were Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini and Administrative Assistant Julie Zintsmaster. Central High Principal Macias-Morris attended both forums.
The first forum was sparsely attended, with only five parents, according to Thomas. Several of those were there to attend an ELAC, or English-Learners Advisory Committee, meeting.
Thomas said Macias-Morris translated for the parents.
RJ Gatti Associates was hired for $14,900 plus $2,231 in expenses to lead the search for a new superintendent.
Superintendent Carolyn McKennan’s contract expires June 30.
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.
