Board tables hire of outside recruiter after debate over COO downgrade, search cost

The board considered a staffing and recruitment plan for senior facilities leadership and decided to table a proposed contract with an outside search firm after trustees questioned scope and cost.
Staff presented a proposal to reclassify a previously intended Chief Operating Officer (COO) position into a Senior Director of Facilities, Planning, Maintenance and Operations to reduce cost and focus the role more narrowly on construction and facilities. Staff said the district had recruited for a COO, conducted interviews and did not forward a final candidate; the recommendation at the meeting was to change the job description to senior director, keep inventory and business duties elsewhere and save on salary costs.
To fill the role the district had solicited quotes from executive search firms; staff recommended MGT (a national firm) for recruitment and cited MGT's prior work for the district. Trustees questioned paying roughly $20,000–$33,000 to an outside recruiter when an experienced interim (Tom, facilities interim director) was performing the work and staff suggested using internal expertise. Trustees also asked whether a more targeted California‑based firm or a lower‑cost vendor (for example, School Services of California or CASBO networks) might produce a broader or more suitable candidate pool while limiting expenses.
After discussion the board voted 5–0 to table the vendor agreement and asked staff to return with additional quotes and a revised scope aligned to the senior director job description. Trustees asked staff to post the finalized job description and to consider hybrid approaches that lean on internal expertise for candidate screening while using an external firm for outreach where necessary.
District interim facilities leadership said he will continue supporting operations on a part‑time schedule while the board directs recruitment planning.