Palo Alto Unified board hires McPherson & Jacobson to lead superintendent search

The Palo Alto Unified School District board voted unanimously March 30 to hire McPherson & Jacobson to conduct the search for a new superintendent.

The boards special meeting began with presentations from three finalists: HYA, Leadership Associates and McPherson & Jacobson. After public comment and questions, Trustee (speaker 12) moved to retain McPherson & Jacobson; Trustee (speaker 7) seconded, the student preferential vote was recorded as "Aye," and the full board cast aye votes. Chair (speaker 1) declared the motion carried and adjourned the meeting.

Board members said their decision weighed each firms personnel and local fit as much as the firmswritten proposals. Trustees who favored McPherson cited the firms emphasis on student engagement and community-facing, transparent reporting during the search process. "Student voice is the center of all of it," McPherson consultant Nicole Anderson said during her presentation, and several trustees told colleagues they found that focus important for a district with high student turnout at meetings.

McPherson representatives described a five-phase process (engage, recruit, vet, interview, transition) that includes detailed stakeholder reports, verbatim notes from listening sessions and a public executive summary. The firm said it provides ongoing post-hire coaching and governance support and that its price is competitive; it also said it will work with the board to set a timeline that balances the districts desire for a July 1 arrival and the time needed for thorough engagement.

During deliberations trustees noted other strengths among the finalists: Leadership Associates highlighted veteran partners, an extensive California network and a firmwide support structure; HYA described active recruiting and a candidate database. Board members said those offerings were credible but that McPhersons presentation better matched the community engagement priorities some trustees and student speakers emphasized.

Public commenters, including students and a representative of CSEA chapter 301, urged robust input from students and labor partners and flagged scheduling issues around spring break and summer availability. A student speaker said the student body endorses McPherson for its early attention to student-run listening sessions and transparency.

The board took no reportable action during an earlier closed session at the start of the meeting. With the search firm selected, trustees said the next steps will be an initial planning meeting with the vendor to finalize engagement groups, timing for focus groups and the survey instrument that will inform the leadership profile and candidate criteria.

The board recorded the motion to hire McPherson & Jacobson at the March 30 special meeting; trustees voted to approve the selection and adjourned the session.