How about holding the search company and the members of the school board personally responsible for vetting and selecting a new candidate that we don't find out after a couple of years wasn't as great as they said and that we have to get rid.

Since 1990 this has been going on and on. The current superintendent is let go/resigns after not performing, we go through a long selection process where the new candidate is touted as the most wonderful thing since sliced bread, then after a couple of years things go south, the school board hides the problems for a couple of more years and they it all comes out and we start the cycle all over again.

/marc

Please get someone from the Bay Area who understands this area and not an import from somewhere else in the country.

McGee had absolutely no idea what this area is like both in pressures and in cost of living. It was a big mistake to have someone like this take charge in the first place.

The other aspect that makes the idea of getting someone from elsewhere is the cost. I seem to remember a very expensive "fact finding trip" to Chicago or somewhere that the BoE plus many others went on at taxpayers' expense which was totally unnecessary. That plus the cost of moving him across country and lending money for him to buy a home are all expenses we can all do without this time.

@Marc, those school board members come up for reelection every 4 years. I think that covers your desire for personal accountability. If your idea is that they personally indemnify the district, well, that's quite an ask to make of a group of volunteers.

Well you interim superintendent seems to be doing a good job just on the fact that I am not hearing about PAUSD constantly anymore.

Agree that the new Superintendent needs to understand and be prepared for housing prices around here up front. No point in talking to someone who doesn't.

But, getting on to real issues, candidates need to understand that there are already billions and billions of AP classes in the high schools and they aren't going to get extra credit for pushing more students to take more AP classes.

Instead, they need to understand how the district got in trouble over (not) protecting students with disabilities, and, fix that problem, K-12. Mistakes in that area have cost the district a lot of $$, and will continue to do so.

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Another big issue is sexual harassment.

Web Link

And, the perennial favorite, staffing. Hiring qualified people, e.g., Spanish teachers who speak Spanish well, Special Ed teachers who have Special Ed training and credentials, etc., and who also happen to be effective classroom teachers. -And doing so within budget.- (Both this year, and, next decade.)

As above: we don't need someone who thinks AP classes are a new idea. Been there, done that. The district has complex and expensive issues to work on. There won't be quick fixes.

Here’s a list of requirements.
Parents require a superintendent who listens to there grievances and takes action against ay teacher who violates the rights of their school aged child.
The superintendent mast always keep all parents abreast of any developments that affect their child and be accessible to the public at all times.
Schools require a superintendent who listens to their grievances and solutions to educational issues in their schools and is observant of the processes in place in those schools to handle the issues. He or she should always accept that there are at least two sides to every issue and help solve those issues to everyone’s satisfaction.
Kelly failed from the parent side,McGee from the schools side.
It’s a tightrope I don’t think anyone is capable of walking in the Palo Alto area.
We have great teachers in this district,why not let them do their job. The education of our kids must come first.

I think every city/county should adopt this. Survey's work great for businesses - it's time we take education and the importance of seriously when working with new staff and updating the times.

https://www.paloaltoonline.com

Let's fill this role from within the district.
In fact lets get a succession planning strategy into play for all senior roles in the district. Running around willy nilly every time there is a need for leadership is a waste of money and time. Lets train the talent we need right here. Neither Max nor Denise worked out as imports to deal with the stressors of this district.

We need:


HONEST

TRUSTWORTHY

RESPECTFUL OF FAMILIES

UNDERSTANDS THIS IS A SERVICE JOB

TRANSPARENCY

A LEADER ABLE TO RESIST BEING DRAWN IN BY THE CYA CROWD AT CHURCHILL

ABLE AND HAPPY TO ESTABLISH TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES

HARD WORKER - NO NEED FOR FANCY USELESS ADVANCED DEGREES IN EDUCATION

ETHICAL

TRUSTWORTHY
TRUSTWORTHY
TRUSTWORTHY

PROBLEM SOLVER

ABLE TO FIRE THE REST OF THE DEAD WOOD AND SCHEMING BACKBITING BAD APPLES LEFTOVER (One bad apple will spoil the whole bunch ... AGAIN)

Willing to look under the carpet instead of continuing the tradition of sweeping everything under until it hits the fan...there is more under there, and we must have someone willing to clean up, apologize, make things work right, with checks and balances.

I imagine word has gotten out about us.
Accepting a position as superintendent for PAUSD is a career-ender.
No matter how high the salary and generous the perks - applicants are going to be wary.

@Former Parent - "career-ender" - how so? McGee retired at an appropriate age; it was always going to be his last position. Skelly is now super at San Mateo High School district. Callan retired at an appropriate age and wrote a book. Don Phillips went to be super at Poway, a much larger district. James Brown went to be super in Glendale, a much larger district. Julian Crocker went to be super at Palo Robles and then at SLO County. That takes it back 30 years, and no careers seemed to go off track.

Palo Alto is a prestige posting, arguably one of the best districts in the state. I expect good candidates will see the opportunity.