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Consultants present superintendent‑search profile; board swears in Ariana Mejia as student representative
Summary
Consultants reported 581 survey responses and roughly 16 hours of focus‑group input to inform the district's superintendent profile; trustees welcomed Ariana Mejia as the student board member and officially administered her oath.
Consultants working with the Placentia‑Yorba Linda Unified School District told trustees on Aug. 5 that community engagement for the superintendent search yielded broad input — roughly 16 hours of focus‑group meetings, engagement with about 251 participants in focus groups and 581 written survey responses — and that those findings will guide recruitment and screening.
A representative of the consultant team summarized the result: “The partners met with a total of 251 people in focus groups and individual meetings,” and said the 581 survey responses were disaggregated by role to identify recurring strengths, challenges and desired superintendent characteristics.
Consultants reported consistent strengths including dedicated teachers and staff, strong academic programs and active community engagement, and flagged recurring challenges: perceived lack of transparency and trust in district leadership, turnover in administrative positions, concerns about equity and resource allocation, and low morale. They said the community prioritized a superintendent who is transparent, collaborative, student‑centered, visible in schools, and able to unify a divided community.
The consultants said only two applications had been formally submitted as of the meeting but that most applicants typically apply near the deadline; they identified roughly a dozen prospective candidates. The board will review materials and move toward interviews in September with a possible appointment on Sept. 9, subject to the board’s schedule.
In related business, the board formally appointed Ariana Mejia as the student board member for the first semester of the 2025–26 school year. The motion to appoint Ariana was made by Trustee Blades and seconded by Trustee Buck and carried 5–0. Interim Superintendent Dr. Alan Musserino administered the oath and introduced Mejia to the board; Mejia said she looks forward to representing students, particularly those in alternative education.
