Palo Alto Unified hires Dr. Jason Glass as superintendent; board approves contract amid transparency concerns

The Palo Alto Unified School District board voted to appoint Dr. Jason Glass as its next superintendent and approved his employment contract at the June board meeting.

The contract, read into the record by board leadership, sets a Year‑1 base salary of $396,136, with the district committing to an annual contribution equal to 5% of the superintendent’s base salary into a tax‑sheltered annuity in addition to base pay. The agreement also offers the superintendent the option to reside in district‑owned housing at 3189 Beressa Street with a monthly rent of $1,800; alternatively, if the superintendent secures housing within district boundaries the district will pay a monthly housing stipend of $5,000 during the contract term. The district will reimburse actual and necessary moving expenses up to $20,000, provide standard district technology and reimburse mileage for travel outside Santa Clara County at the IRS rate.

Board members and community members repeatedly praised the search process and the community panels that participated in finalist interviews. Nicole, a representative of the district’s search firm McPherson & Jacobson, told the board that community participation — including student panels — helped identify the finalist the board ultimately selected.

At the same time, several public commenters and one trustee raised concerns about the speed of the contract vote and the clarity of the contract’s total first‑year cost. Deborah Goldin and other parents asked the board to disclose the full estimated first‑year package — including housing support, step increases and potential severance — rather than only the headline salary figure. One trustee said the full draft contract was shared with board members on short notice and flagged clauses she said could limit board oversight, including language granting the superintendent an exclusive right to recommend appointments and provisions that appeared to allow automatic step‑based pay increases irrespective of performance.

Those concerns were discussed during board deliberations but did not prevent passage. Trustees moved to waive the two‑meeting rule to permit same‑night approval of the contract and related agenda items; the motion carried and the contract was adopted. The board also adopted resolution 202526.27 to waive California credential requirements for the incoming superintendent, a standard practice when the candidate does not hold a California credential.

After the vote, Dr. Glass thanked the board and community, described his multi‑generational family history in education and pledged to “show up” and listen to students, staff and families as he assumes the role.

What’s next: The contract takes effect July 1, 2026. Community members who asked for expanded disclosure said they will continue to press the district for clearer, itemized estimates of the superintendent’s total compensation and for open discussion of any contract clauses that could alter long‑term costs or governance dynamics.