Board approves addendum extending superintendent’s term and raising base pay to $352,000

The Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees on Nov. 13 approved a first addendum to Superintendent Crystal Leech’s employment agreement that extends her term to June 30, 2028 and sets her annual base salary at $352,000 effective July 1, 2025.

President Stevenson read a verbal summary required under California Government Code section 54953(c)(3), saying the addendum extends the contract term and that "the superintendent annual base shall be $352,000." The item was placed on the open‑session agenda and the board voted by roll call to approve the addendum unanimously.

The addendum amends the July 1, 2023 employment agreement only in the two material terms described to the public: the contract term and the base salary. Board discussion was brief; board members expressed appreciation for Leech’s service to the district. "On behalf of the board we want to just say thank you, thank you for being in service with us," a board member said during the motion.

Superintendent Crystal Leech did not make additional comments about the contract terms during the public portion of the meeting. Board members were invited to ask questions and then moved to a formal motion and roll call vote, which carried 5–0.

The district serves roughly 9,000 students, a board member noted during remarks thanking Leech for her leadership during difficult years that included pandemic response and student‑support work. The board did not provide additional detail in the meeting about fringe benefits, severance, or other compensation elements beyond the two material terms summarized at the meeting.

Next procedural steps: the board ratified the public‑session motion at the meeting and implementation of the addendum will proceed according to the contract language. The board did not identify any further required public hearings for this addendum.