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Eureka Union superintendent to retire; board hires Placer County Office of Education to run search
Summary
Superintendent Tom Janis announced his retirement effective April 1; the board accepted his resignation and voted to engage the Placer County Office of Education to conduct the superintendent search, appointing a board liaison for continuity.
Superintendent Tom Janis told the Eureka Union School District Board of Trustees he will retire effective April 1, and the board voted to engage the Placer County Office of Education to run the district's superintendent search.
Janis said the decision comes with “mixed emotions” after more than 12 years with the district. "April 1 would be the effective day of retirement," he said, adding, "it's not April Fools' — I don't plan on being here April 1." The board accepted his retirement at the meeting by voice vote.
The board then considered two proposals to lead the recruitment: Placer County Office of Education (PCOE) and the private firm McPherson & Jacobson. Trustee Renee (name as recorded during discussion) and others told the board they preferred PCOE because it is less costly and familiar with local candidates. Brad Tooker, deputy county superintendent and chief of staff at Placer County Office of Education, outlined a search process the office would run, including public surveys, focus groups, screening of applicants, and reference checks. Tooker said the typical timeline is roughly four months but noted contract or notice requirements for a candidate who is a sitting superintendent could push a start date to July 1.
A motion to engage the Placer County Office of Education, moved by Trustee Conklin and seconded by Trustee Dahlstrom, passed with the board recording four ayes and one absence (Trustee Holt was absent). During the vote discussion, a board member with prior search experience offered to serve as the board's liaison to the firm for continuity; the board approved appointing that board member as the liaison as part of the motion.
Tooker described typical search steps: community input (surveys and focus groups), a screening of candidates with confidential application handling through his office, an initial interview round (often with a community panel providing nonbinding feedback), and finalist interviews followed by contract negotiation led by the board president with legal counsel.
The board also accepted Janis's retirement in a separate motion moved and seconded by Trustees Conklin and Dahlstrom. Board members offered public thanks and personal tributes during the meeting.
What happens next: the board voted to proceed with PCOE and to set key timeline decisions (survey/focus-group choices and interview dates) so PCOE can begin outreach. Tooker advised the board to consider confidentiality practices and to select interview dates quickly so the search can be scheduled.
