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El Rancho Unified accepts superintendent Marco Villegas’s resignation and appoints Dora Soto Delgado as interim
Summary
The El Rancho Unified Board accepted Superintendent Marco Villegas’s resignation and appointed Dora Soto Delgado as interim superintendent; closed-session motions approved the resignation and separation agreement and directed legal counsel to begin contract negotiations for the interim appointment.
The El Rancho Unified School District Board of Education on Oct. 21 accepted the resignation of Superintendent Marco Villegas and appointed Dora Soto Delgado as interim superintendent.
Board members reported in open session that, during a closed session meeting, motions were passed to accept Dr. Villegas’s resignation effective Oct. 21, 2025, and to approve a resignation and separation agreement. The board also voted to appoint Dora Soto Delgado, then director of student support services, as interim superintendent and instructed legal counsel to open contract negotiations. The closed-session report recorded the personnel votes as passing with a 4–0 majority and one abstention by a board member who participated remotely.
Why it matters: leadership transitions at the district level shape near-term operations — from school safety protocols to staffing and budget priorities — and often prompt public comment and requests for continuity. The board framed the appointment as a continuity move while members prepare for a longer-term superintendent search.
Community reaction was wide-ranging at the meeting’s public-comment portion. Dr. Teresa Marino, a former board member, praised Dr. Villegas’s record and urged gratitude for his work: “I am here this evening to personally express my profound gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Marco Villegas for his years of service,” she said. Several other community members offered mixed views, thanking Dr. Villegas for district improvements while also raising concerns about accountability and campus safety.
Dora Soto Delgado, the interim superintendent, addressed the board and community after the appointment, saying she was honored by the opportunity and pledged collaborative leadership to ensure continuity for students and staff: “I am honored by this opportunity to provide continued leadership during this period of transition and to continue serving our students and staff and community,” she said.
What the board voted on: the public record and the closed-session report list three formal actions taken during the prior closed session and confirmed in open session: - Acceptance of the resignation of Dr. Marco Villegas, effective Oct. 21, 2025; outcome: approved (reported vote 4–0–1, with one abstention). - Approval of a resignation and separation agreement with Dr. Villegas; outcome: approved (reported vote 4–0–1, abstention recorded). - Appointment of Dora Soto Delgado as interim superintendent, with direction to legal counsel to negotiate an interim contract; outcome: approved (reported vote 4–0–1, abstention recorded).
Next steps: the board said the contract for the interim superintendent will be presented at a future meeting. Trustees and staff also requested follow-up briefings and public updates on related items — including staffing, safety measures and the timeline for a permanent superintendent search — during upcoming board updates.
Source and provenance: meeting report and closed-session summary read into the public record at the Oct. 21 board meeting (closed-session report and appointment announcement).
