Cave Creek board hires McPherson & Jacobson for superintendent search, bars Wilsons from role

Cave Creek Unified School District Governing Board members voted Nov. 3 to hire McPherson & Jacobson to conduct the district's superintendent search and to exclude consultants identified in the meeting as "the Wilsons" from that work.

The vote came during a special meeting called at 6 p.m. and followed an executive session the board said was convened under Arizona Revised Statutes 38-431.03(A)(1) to discuss the possible employment, assignment or appointment of a superintendent or interim superintendent.

"I make a motion that we switch from HYA to McPherson and Jacobson with the, understanding that the Wilsons will not be our consultants given their, past legal issues," a board member moved. The motion was seconded and discussed before the roll call vote.

Board President said the board had stepped back after receiving proposals and reviewing details, and that one proposal "changed what their proposal was, and it was a significant financial change." The president said the board sought to show the community it had reviewed all information and to conduct a search that was transparent.

Another board member said the goal was an "open search" to dispel rumors that a candidate was being selected without full consideration and emphasized using professional consultants and allowing community input. Members also said the process should be financially responsible.

Chair conduct of the vote was by roll call; Member Moore and board member Jackie were recorded voting "Aye" on the motion. The chair announced, "we have McPherson and Jacobson," indicating the motion carried.

The meeting record does not include a full roll-call list of each individual board member's vote in the transcript provided; the transcript records multiple verbal "Aye" responses and two named affirmations. The precise vote tally beyond the recorded affirmations was not specified in the transcript.

The board adjourned after the vote; the chair said, "We're adjourned at 06:45."