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Riverside Unified hires ESS to lead superintendent search after board interviews
Summary
After interviewing three search firms, the Riverside Unified School District board voted 4–1 to hire Education Support Services (ESS) to lead the superintendent search, citing stakeholder outreach, a leadership profile process and a two‑year mentorship commitment.
The Riverside Unified Board of Education voted 4–1 on April 17 to hire Education Support Services (ESS) to manage the district’s superintendent search.
ESS representatives Steven Keller and Kelly Morrison told the board their firm provides a “concierge” service focused on tailored stakeholder engagement, a leadership profile drawn from focus groups and an online survey, and thorough candidate vetting including background and social‑media reviews. “We really do connect with you,” Keller said during his presentation.
Trustees said several features of ESS’s proposal were persuasive: a communications specialist on the team to help shape the district’s public profile, regular weekly updates for the board and a stated two‑year mentorship program for the incoming superintendent. Trustee Hernandez Alexander moved to contract with ESS; Trustee Tweed seconded the motion. President Lee said he was “leaning toward ESS” and raised an appearance question about another bidder’s local ties before voting.
The board recorded the motion as passed 4–1. The meeting record shows trustees Hernandez Alexander, Tweed and others voted in favor; one trustee voted against the motion.
ESS’s presentation included a proposed timeline that would allow the board to have a finalist by late June if the board adopts the firm and the firm proceeds on the schedule the consultants outlined.
The board also discussed guarantee and replacement provisions offered by the firms. One competing firm, McPherson & Jacobson, told the board it would replace a superintendent who left within two years at no cost to the district; ESS emphasized post‑placement coaching and an 88% retention figure for placements since 2017.
Next steps: district staff will finalize the contract details and return to the board with a formal agreement for signature and implementation of the advertised timeline.
