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Carlsbad Unified board hires Education Support Services to lead superintendent search
Summary
After presentations from three finalist firms, the Carlsbad Unified School District board voted 5–0 to hire Education Support Services to conduct the district’s superintendent search. Trustees cited ESS’s community engagement and transition support; the board also asked staff to compile feedback on the classroom cell-phone policy.
The Carlsbad Unified School District Board of Trustees voted 5–0 to hire Education Support Services to conduct the district’s superintendent search following presentations from three finalist search firms and a brief trustee discussion.
Trustees said ESS’s presentation and stakeholder-engagement approach stood out during deliberations. Several trustees praised ESS for being “very engaging” and for answering questions clearly during its presentation. A trustee also raised concerns about formatting errors in one competitor’s proposal and questioned an association with an individual named Julie Vitali; the board did not take formal action on that concern during the meeting.
Representatives from two other finalist firms presented earlier in the meeting. Bill Huitt, senior consultant with McPherson and Jacobson, told the board the firm emphasizes community engagement and candidate confidentiality, saying the firm’s “core is the kids” and that it conducts in-person and online outreach, surveys and confidential finalist interviews with signed nondisclosure agreements. Huitt described a California-based consultant network and estimated most searches take eight to 15 weeks.
Tim Ritter and Dr. Frederick Navaro presented for the Costa Group and highlighted their experience placing long-tenured superintendents in high-performing districts. Costa Group representatives said their firm limits each team to one active search at a time and includes two years of mentorship for placed superintendents at no additional cost.
After trustee discussion, a trustee moved to select Education Support Services to conduct the search; Trustee Ward seconded. Miss Garcia called the roll: COC yes, Trustee Emory yes, Trustee Verth yes, Trustee Ward yes, Trustee Rollings yes. The motion passed 5–0.
The board also requested several staff follow-ups. One trustee asked staff to compile a summary from every school site on the recently adopted classroom cell-phone policy — including teacher, administrator and parent feedback — and staff said they could include survey results in a future Friday update. Another trustee requested an agenda item to review the International Baccalaureate program at Jefferson and consider possible changes to a dual-language immersion program.
The board adjourned at 11:25 p.m. and announced its next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Carlsbad Unified School District office.
