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Trustees approve search calendar and draft criteria for superintendent: consultants emphasize outreach, diversity and transparency
Summary
Consultants recommended a search timeline with stakeholder input Feb. 17–28, application close March 27, candidate selection April 8, interviews late April/early May and board action May 21. Trustees prioritized equity, community‑centered and student‑centered criteria and asked for bilingual and classroom experience to be noted as preferences.
Antioch Unified trustees on Tuesday reviewed a consultant‑led plan for hiring a permanent superintendent and provided input on advertising, stakeholder outreach and the job criteria the consultants will post.
McPherson & Jacobson consultants presented a timeline that includes stakeholder input and surveys from Feb. 17–28, a planned application closing date of March 27, a special board selection meeting on April 8 to choose interviewees, finalist interviews in late April/early May and board action on May 21 to approve a finalist and contract. The consultants estimated typical advertising costs around $1,500 and recommended posting in education outlets and affinity organizations to attract diverse candidates.
"This is all about you picking your next superintendent, which is your only employee and the most important decision you're probably gonna make in the midst of all of this," the lead consultant said, laying out the search phases and the consultant team's role in recruitment and screening.
Trustees stressed outreach to affinity and community groups, translation and interpretation access, and student voice. The consultants described a standard input protocol: four questions for input sessions (strengths, district strengths, issues for the new superintendent, and desired characteristics); the survey will be anonymous and verbatim comments redacted for names and profanity.
Board members then offered their top criteria for the job. One trustee listed: "ethical leader, equity leader, effective collaborator and communicator, a passionate leader, and a community‑centered leader." Others emphasized student‑centered leadership, systems thinking, strong instructional expertise, and an ability to bridge the board and superintendent roles. The consultants said they would synthesize the trustees' input into five draft criteria and circulate language for final trustee feedback before posting the vacancy.
On qualifications, trustees debated requirements versus preferences for classroom experience, California administrative credential, bilingual proficiency and an advanced degree. The board generally favored keeping these as preferences rather than strict disqualifiers to avoid excluding nontraditional applicants, but asked consultants to make clear preferences (for example, bilingual/bicultural Spanish proficiency) where appropriate.
Consultants also warned the board to avoid any perception that an interim superintendent or internal candidate would receive special treatment: "An interim can apply for the job ... but we want to ensure that it is an open process and it's fair and that there is no perception," a consultant said, noting the firm does not include an interim in process steps that would create a conflict.
Next steps: consultants will circulate a draft job description and criteria for trustee edits this week and begin advertising once criteria are finalized. The stakeholder input report will be presented at the March 19 board meeting.
