Benicia Unified School District trustees agreed Thursday to explore its options in contracting McPherson & Jacobson LLC to search for a new superintendent to replace Janice Adams, who will retire at the end of the 2014-15 school year.
Trustees also approved a one-year pilot program between the district and SolTrans for discounted student bus passes for income-eligible students for the 2015 calendar year.
Board President Gary Wing said trustees wanted to be as transparent as possible in selecting a new superintendent, a process of finding “the best people who are going to meet the best needs of our schools and our community.”
Trustees unanimously settled on McPherson and Jacobson, of Omaha, Neb., over Leadership Associates, of La Quinta. Trustee Diane Ferrucci said she liked the idea of McPherson meeting with the new superintendent and board to help establish new goals.
Leadership Associates also offers that service, Ferrucci noted, but “several other districts, especially the one from Pittsburg, said that there were additional costs that we need to be aware of.”
Trustee Peter Morgan said he learned from a board member of the El Monte Union District in Los Angeles County that “with McPherson you will get exactly what you negotiate. They don’t do more, but they deliver what they say they will,” he said.
“He said he thought they did an awesome job, but they had to go through very in-depth negotiations to get what they wanted,” Morgan said.
Adams, who will retire at the end of the school year, presented a request for the one-year pilot program between BUSD and SolTrans, saying, “The goal is to increase student attendance and to support those families who are having trouble with transportation and find it difficult to purchase passes.”
She noted that there were community donations for some families that are struggling to afford even half-price passes, mentioning the Rotary Club, Lions Club and Friendship Club.
The district will be responsible for determining eligibility criteria based on free and reduced lunch qualifications and attendance records, she said. SolTrans will monitor ridership on bus routes ridden by students.
“I appreciate SolTrans with their willingness to work with us,” Adams said.
The motion was passed unanimously, with all board members present.
Sharing is caring!
Hiring a search firm should be on a percentage of the base salary for one year. It also should included a free hire search if the person hired stays less than one year. All search items such as excpenses etc should be included in the percentage fee. Vetting, etc. The field should then be narrowed to three candidates and then interviewed by the board for final decision. It can be an easy process that should not be made difficult. The search firm should interview all candidates and narrowe the field down to those to be presented to the board or hiring H R folks to get to the final three. Simple, get to three and then select. It is the responsibility of the search firm to get the right person. Unless you give an exclusive you should let two or more firms be involved in the search. If you give an exclusive it should be on a time limit and a lower fee. They produce or they are out. I do like the competive search idea.