Santa Clara Unified board selects HYA Inc. to lead superintendent search

The Santa Clara Unified School District Board voted 5 to 2 on Jan. 15 to hire HYA Incorporated to conduct the district's search for a new superintendent, following presentations and trustee questioning of three firms that responded to the district's request for proposals.

Board members heard hour-long presentations from Alma Advisory Group, HYA Incorporated and McPherson & Jacobson, asked detailed questions about California experience, community engagement and background checks, and then returned to the dais to choose a firm. Trustee Ryan moved to hire HYA; Trustee Muirhead seconded. The motion passed 5 to 2.

The vote ended a public review of search proposals that the district said attracted responses from 33 firms. District staff member Gary Scheel told the board: "we received responses back from 33 of the firms that had received that document or the RFP request for proposal. And, and those are before you this evening." Scheel introduced the process that produced the three finalists and said the board would hear presentations, followed by question-and-answer periods.

Why it matters

The board must select a consultant to manage community engagement, recruit candidates, vet finalists and support contract negotiation and transition. Trustees emphasized local knowledge of California K-12 operations and the ability to produce a broad and diverse candidate pool. Several trustees said they wanted a firm familiar with Bay Area districts and capable of producing strong community input documents and confidential candidate handling.

What the firms proposed

Alma Advisory Group presented a four- to six-month search plan that emphasized anti-bias design and community-driven competencies. Deirdre Hargrove Krigoff, senior associate, described the firm's approach to candidate screening and performance-based interview activities; Alyanna Pereira highlighted community engagement and said Alma's team "would be with you side by side all along the way through to the point, where you have an accepted offer from a finalist." Trustees pressed Alma about its California experience; the firm said it has run a small number of California searches and emphasized its national networks.

HYA Incorporated's presentation was led by Dr. Valerie Pitts and Julie Half. Pitts framed the search as the board's "awesome responsibility" and described HYA's California-based associates and long experience in Bay Area searches. HYA proposed a local-heavy engagement model (multiple in-person listening sessions, multilingual outreach and a research-based leadership profile survey) and said it would include community input in the public leadership profile the board would use for recruiting. In response to trustee questions, HYA confirmed its base fee shown in the proposal (the firm stated a base fee figure during Q&A) and said most community engagement on the front end is included in the base price.

McPherson & Jacobson underscored candidate retention and alignment with governing boards. Nicole Anderson opened by calling the superintendent hire "1 of the most important decisions you're gonna make," and the firm outlined phased outreach, structured screening, a stakeholder interview panel option and post-hire goal setting. McPherson pointed to its national network and a track record of placing leaders who remain in post; trustees noted prior experience working with a McPherson consultant on governance matters.

Board discussion and reasons for the vote

Trustees debated trade-offs among the three firms. Several trustees said Alma's anti-bias process appealed to them but that the firm lacked depth of California experience. Trustee Ratermann and others raised that concern during questioning.

Trustees who voted for HYA cited the firm's explicit California and Bay Area experience, multilingual engagement plans and the firm's proposal to provide a research-based leadership profile and a secure document portal. Trustee Ryan, who made the motion to retain HYA, said during deliberations that the board had "three remarkable firms" but favored HYA's local experience. Trustees Muirhead and Ryan seconded or supported motions in favor of HYA; two trustees voted no. Trustee Muirhead later clarified concerns about confidentiality and CPRA (public records) implications of consultant communications and candidate handling; district legal counsel answered that records may be subject to public records law depending on content and exemptions.

Public comment

Union and parent leaders urged the board to pick a firm with deep California experience and to prioritize partnership, inclusion and students. Margie Wysocki, president of United Teachers of Santa Clara, said the district needs a partner with California knowledge and an emphasis on partnership. Stephanie Allopin, president of CSEA local chapter, asked that classified staff be included in engagement and for a visible, reachable superintendent candidate. PTA and parent speakers emphasized Santa Clara's diversity and asked the board to ensure outreach reaches families across languages and cultures.

Formal actions and next steps

Votes at a glance - Motion: Retain HYA Incorporated to conduct the superintendent search. Mover: Trustee Ryan. Second: Trustee Muirhead. Outcome: approved, 5 yes, 2 no. - Motion: Approve meeting agenda. Outcome: approved, 6 yes, 0 no, Trustee Canova absent. - Motion: Adjourn meeting. Mover: Trustee Fairchild. Second: Trustee Ryan. Outcome: approved (voice).

The contract and a final scope-of-work will follow the board vote. Trustees and staff discussed next steps for setting a search timeline and scheduling the board's planning meeting to finalize competencies, stakeholder groups and logistics for community sessions. The district indicated the consultant will post the position publicly, begin stakeholder engagement and return with a recruitment timeline once a contract is executed.

Who spoke (selected) - Gary Scheel, district staff member (introduced RFP outcome and candidates) - Alyanna Pereira, Chief of Staff, Alma Advisory Group (presenter) - Deirdre Hargrove Krigoff, Senior Associate, Alma Advisory Group (presenter) - Dr. Valerie Pitts, HYA Incorporated (presenter) - Julie Half, HYA Incorporated (presenter) - Nicole Anderson, McPherson & Jacobson (presenter) - Dr. Daniel Morello, McPherson & Jacobson (presenter) - Trustee Ryan (moved to retain HYA Inc.) - Trustee Muirhead (seconded the motion) - Trustee Fairchild (motioned to adjourn) - Public commenters: Margie Wysocki (United Teachers of Santa Clara), Stephanie Allopin (CSEA), Rachna (Santa Clara Council PTA), Ravi Tal Maron (parent)

Ending

The board's selection authorizes staff to negotiate and finalize an agreement with HYA Incorporated. The board expects the consultant to begin community engagement and return with a recruitment timeline and candidate slate; the board emphasized confidentiality safeguards for applicants and asked legal staff to advise on public records handling for consultant communications.