Parent seeks transparency in principal search; board declines personnel approval after debate

During public comment, Molly identified herself as a parent of an incoming middle‑school student and asked the board for more transparency about the upcoming middle and high school principal search. "I'm here to ask for more information in regards to the hiring process for the middle and high school principal position that will be open next year," she said, asking when the position will be posted, the timeline for the search, and how community, student and staff input will be solicited.

The superintendent replied that the district had begun with an internal process and had solicited staff feedback in prior searches, describing the approach as similar to the district's recent elementary search and saying staff interest had been solicited. The superintendent also said they did not have unilateral authority to announce hires and that the board process would be followed.

Later in the meeting the personnel report (item 5.7) listed a single personnel action to approve hiring Mr. Stern as middle/high school principal, described in discussion as a hire transitioning from a temporary assignment. Following discussion about whether the position had been publicly posted and whether community members had adequate notice, one board member said, "I'm not gonna approve the personnel report." The motion to approve the personnel report failed on a subsequent voice vote.

What happens next: Board members asked the public to contact the superintendent directly with concerns and scheduled follow-up discussion and executive‑session time to complete evaluation work ahead of next meetings; no formal change to the hiring action was recorded in the meeting minutes.