Merced City board narrowly approves new HR executive-officer job description after credentialing clash

The Merced City School District Board of Trustees voted 3–2 on April 8 to approve a new job description for a Human Resources Executive Officer intended to broaden the pool of candidates for senior HR leadership.

Supporters said the change is a practical response to a statewide shortage of qualified HR leaders and will allow the district to recruit candidates with equivalent experience when few applicants hold the traditional administrative credential. Superintendent Stocking told the board the role is designed to attract “quality leaders” and that the district will follow standard HR screening and a multi-stage interview process before recommending finalists.

Trustees who opposed the change raised repeated concerns that creating a non‑administrator title could lower the district’s bar for supervising certificated staff. Trustee Delgado warned that hiring someone without an administrative credential could “repeat the history of this district rather than chart a new path,” and asked for stronger assurances about evaluation and oversight.

Superintendent Stocking and staff said the organizational structure will place evaluation responsibility with a certificated administrator (the deputy superintendent) so that any certificated HR staff have a credentialed evaluator in compliance with Education Code requirements. The superintendent also committed to a search process that includes representation from the Merced Classroom Teachers Association (MCTA) and CSEA, and to providing trustees the résumé of the recommended finalist.

Trustee Brooks, who supported the measure, said widening the applicant pool could help the district recruit a highly qualified leader who might not otherwise apply under the stricter title requirement. "Opening it up gives us more numbers," Brooks said during the discussion, adding that a larger pool increases the chance of finding “that right person.”

The motion passed with President Lacaretti, Trustee Jang and Trustee Brooks voting yes; Trustee McCutchen and Trustee Delgado voted no. The board approved the job description and directed staff to post the position and proceed with the advertised search. When a finalist is recommended, the district will present contract terms to the board for approval.

Because the job description alters the district’s senior‑management titles and responsibilities, trustees asked staff to ensure the search panel includes labor‑partner representatives, to provide trustees with finalist résumés, and to maintain the district’s established multi‑round interview and rating process.

The board took no immediate personnel action; the hiring process and any employment contract will return to the board for later approval.