Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Superintendent Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Murrieta trustees split over superintendent contract extension after community complaints
Summary
Trustees debated an amendment to extend Superintendent Dr. Andrews' employment through 2030 and change annual raises; board discussion focused on communication lapses, curriculum fidelity and special-education concerns; a proposed one-year amendment failed on a 2-2 tie.
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District board heard an extended, sometimes heated, discussion on an amendment to Superintendent Dr. Andrews' employment agreement Thursday night and failed to approve a proposed one-year limit on the extension by a 2-2 roll-call tie.
Assistant Superintendent Rich Ridout provided the oral summary required by government code before action on executive compensation: the amendment on the table would extend the superintendent's contract through June 30, 2030, reduce the percentage increase in his annual salary from 2.5% to 2.0% (upon satisfactory evaluation), and add a $5,000 annual stipend paid as a tax-sheltered annuity tied to annual goals.
Several trustees said recent events — especially the district's poorly communicated plan to alter elementary band scheduling and recurring concerns about special-education implementation and curriculum rollouts — left them uneasy about a multi-year extension. Trustee Young said repeated communication failures and teacher reports that curriculum changes were not implemented with fidelity undermined board confidence. Trustee Briggs and another board member also expressed deep concerns about the pattern of problems and asked for a shorter-term path.
"I do not have confidence that that's happening," Trustee Young said of district-wide implementation and communication around curriculum and special education.
Trustee Briggs and one other trustee supported allowing the extension process to continue with modifications; Trustee Briggs said she is an "all in" board member but described recent events as an accumulation of concerns. Trustee Schmidt called for transparency and noted the superintendent is the district's chief executive; Trustee Schmidt and one other trustee ultimately voted against the one-year amendment.
When Trustee (name recorded in transcript as) Young called the roll on the proposed amendment to limit the extension to one year, the votes produced a tie and the amendment failed 2-2. Board President Perdue announced the vote result and said follow-up meetings would be scheduled; the transcript records no final approval of the longer extension before adjournment.
Why it matters: Extending a superintendent's contract affects executive accountability, compensation benchmarks and long-term district leadership at a time when parents, teachers and board members demanded improved communication and stronger implementation of special-education and curriculum policies.
What's next: Trustees discussed scheduling a special meeting to continue contract deliberations. The board did not approve a final contract amendment on Thursday; further action is expected at a follow-up meeting.
