Morgan Hill School District trustees have chosen Alan Nishino to
become the new superintendent.
Morgan Hill School District trustees have chosen Alan Nishino to become the new superintendent.
Nishino, now superintendent of the Alameda Unified School District, is in the midst of negotiating a contract with the district to replace Carolyn McKennan as of July 1.
“I am pleased that the Morgan Hill School Board members have confidence that I can possibly be of assistance in guiding their district toward their goal of increasing student potential for academic success in the future,” Nishino said Friday evening in a telephone interview after telling district staff there of the offer.
“However, I still have work to finish here (in Alameda). I have not left Alameda, and I need to take care of my commitments here. If contract negotiations are completed to the satisfaction of the board and myself, then I will finish my work here and look forward to working with the Morgan Hill School District and board to prepare Morgan Hill students to excel.”
School Board President Shellé Thomas said Thursday night, after trustees returned from a day-long visit to Alameda, that the board decision was unanimous. She said trustees talked with approximately 30 people before making the decision.
The board received 21 applications for the position. Six of the applicants interviewed with the board and an advisory committee made up of community members and representatives from the district. Three candidates took part in second interviews. After that, trustees made Nishino the lone finalist.
The Alameda School District is made up of 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, a community learning center, a science and technology institute, an adult school and a child development center. It is in Alameda County.
The K-12 district serves a population of 10,615 students, with 15 percent African-American, 35 percent Asian, 18 percent white, 32 percent low income and 20 percent English language learners.
Nishino served as superintendent of the Castaic Union School District in Southern California for five years before moving to Alameda in 2000.
Once the superintendent has been hired, trustees are expected to arrange a workshop or retreat with the new superintendent, as suggested to them during a recent retreat.
The purpose of the retreat would be to bring the trustees and new superintendent together to learn more about each other and develop expectations.
Thomas said the board has not made a definite plan to have such a workshop, although they are interested in the idea.
“This is like a marriage,” Thomas said of a relationship between the board and the superintendent. “It is important that we start out understanding each other. We want to be able to work things through to get the best possible results.
“We also have the option, with Rudi and Janet Gatti, that they come back six or eight months after the superintendent has been hired and work with us. We have numerous opportunities to strengthen our relationship.”
Rudi and Janet Gatti of RJ Gatti Associates were hired by the board to coordinate the search for the new superintendent.
McKennan, who has been superintendent since 1997, did not seek a contract extension.
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.
