Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Superintendent Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Elk Grove Unified trustees award superintendent‑search contract to Leadership Associates after interviewing three firms
Summary
After interviewing three finalist firms about outreach, vetting and retention, the Elk Grove Unified School District board voted unanimously to award RFP 799‑2526 for superintendent search services to Leadership Associates. Trustees cited the firm’s statewide connections and leadership‑development approach.
Elk Grove Unified School District trustees voted unanimously to award a contract for superintendent search services to Leadership Associates, the board president announced after a roll‑call vote following presentations and questions from three finalist firms.
The board held a special meeting to hear 15‑minute presentations and 15 minutes of questions from Leadership Associates, McPherson & Jacobson and Education Leadership Services (ELS). Leadership Associates representatives emphasized stakeholder engagement, bilingual outreach and candidate vetting. Senior partner David Verdugo told trustees, “Leadership Associates is the only silver affiliate search firm business partner that is recognized by CSBA,” and the team highlighted that “85% of our placements stay for five years or more.”
Why it matters: Trustees said the district’s large size—tens of thousands of students across multiple cities—makes broad community outreach and experience with bond‑funded construction important parts of the search. Several trustees pressed firms on retention metrics, how each firm recruits a diverse applicant pool, and how the firm would conduct stakeholder meetings and multilingual surveys in a district with substantial English‑learner populations.
Board members asked each presenter to give examples and data. McPherson & Jacobson’s representative cited an approximate five‑year retention rate of about 80% and described use of video and scenario exercises for finalists. ELS’s team, which described itself as locally based in Northern California, listed a base fee of $50,000 for its package and said it includes first‑year coaching; ELS representatives stated they have had 100% retention so far in their shorter operating history.
Trustees emphasized outreach and diversity. Trustee Moore asked how firms would “reach the broadest group of applicants with a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences,” and firms described targeted outreach, bilingual surveys and stakeholder meetings with labor groups, parents, students and community partners. Leadership Associates and ELS said they would provide surveys in multiple languages and that they would accommodate in‑person and virtual formats to increase participation.
Deliberation and vote: After the three interviews and a period for trustee discussion, board members used forced‑ranking sheets. Leadership Associates emerged as the board’s top choice. Trustee Yang made a motion to authorize award of RFP 799‑2526 for superintendent search services to Leadership Associates; a trustee seconded the motion and the board approved it by unanimous roll‑call vote. The board adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
Next steps: The board’s action authorizes district staff to finalize contract details with Leadership Associates under the terms of RFP 799‑2526; trustees indicated the firm will return for follow‑up as needed and the search timeline and stakeholder workshops will be determined in an initial meeting between the board and the vendor.
