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Parent urges Beverly Hills Unified board to consider internal candidate Alex Chernis for superintendent
Summary
A parent speaker recommended Dr. Alex Chernis, a candidate with a long history in the district and subsequent superintendent experience, asking the board to consider him for the permanent superintendent role to save search costs and leverage local knowledge.
During public comment at the Beverly Hills Unified School District special board meeting on March 4, a parent speaker asked the board to consider Dr. Alex Chernis as a candidate for the permanent superintendent position.
The speaker, who identified himself as speaking on behalf of concerned parents, said Dr. Chernis began his career in the district as a middle school math teacher and rose through local leadership roles. "His career in education began right here in the BHUSD as a middle school math teacher," the speaker said, recounting that Chernis later served as principal of Hawthorne School where he helped raise academic scores and that he had served as a chief financial officer at the county level and most recently led the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
The speaker framed the suggestion as a cost-saving measure: considering internal or locally known candidates, he said, could avoid the "significant cost associated with external search firms" and keep funds directed "where they are most needed — toward our students." He clarified that his remarks were not a critique of Acting Superintendent Dr. Hastie: "I want to emphasize that my suggestion today is not a critique of acting superintendent Hasty, whose efforts during this transition are greatly appreciated."
No formal action or nomination occurred during the meeting; the speaker asked the board to consider such candidates as the district begins a longer-term search process.
Ending: The public comment period continued with additional speakers; the board did not take a formal vote or make a public decision on superintendent search strategy during the open session.
