Board approves cabinet CTO contract after public criticism of hiring process

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board approved a cabinet-level contract to hire Misty Roton as chief technology officer, a decision that drew public scrutiny over the recruitment process and the pay attached to the position.

Assistant Superintendent Kit Bragg presented the contract terms, including a start date of April 1, 2026 and a salary tied to the 2025–26 cabinet salary schedule; the board asked that the summary language and the merit recruitment process be explained before the vote. Bragg said a merit-panel process with labor partners and technology staff recommended the candidate. (Speaker: Kit Bragg)

Public commenters argued the district could have recruited internal candidates or kept the role at director level, and some raised health and wireless concerns related to district technology infrastructure. "I would urge the board not to approve this contract because I think it should continue to remain a director position," one commenter said. (Public commenters)

Misty Roton addressed the board and summarized two decades of K–12 technology experience and her stated commitment to secure, reliable systems. After trustee questions about whether board members or trustees had been included in the interview panel and whether the candidate had prior working relationships with the superintendent, the board moved and approved the contract. One trustee recorded a dissenting vote during the roll call, and the motion carried. (Speaker: Misty Roton)

The board did not alter the contract terms and directed staff to proceed with onboarding and final administrative steps. No change to district technology policy was made at the meeting.

Next steps: staff to complete administrative contract paperwork and to follow the district's onboarding procedures; trustees asked staff to share documentation of the recruitment process with any board members who requested it.