Solano County board conditionally appoints Dr. Nicola Parr as interim superintendent

The Solano County Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Nicola Parr as interim Solano County Superintendent of Schools, conditionally requiring proof of a California administrative credential by the boards August 13 meeting. Trustees cast their votes by roll call after a night of public comment and candidate interviews; the motion passed (Cheek: yes; Colin/Collin/"Cullen" Thompson: no; Dean: yes; Dunn: no; Lavelle: yes; Sharp: yes; Coleman: yes).

The appointment follows a public interview process for five finalists selected by an ad hoc committee: Brian Dolan, Manolo Garcia, Stella Kemp, Nicola (Nikki) Parr and Micah Studer. The board heard more than two dozen public commenters and read four online submissions before interviewing candidates in public, using an eight-question rubric and 40-minute interview window for each finalist.

In presenting the motion, Trustee Dean urged the board to select someone who could represent the county publicly and continue SCOEs student-centered programs. Trustee Cheek told colleagues she favored Parr because of her record at the Solano County Office of Education, noting her experience in program development, grant management and fiscal oversight. President Coleman closed the meeting by praising Parrs hands-on work supporting vulnerable students and announcing the approved conditional appointment.

Legal counsel had earlier advised the board that a county superintendent must hold an administrative credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to assume the office; the board framed the appointment as conditional on that credential being presented by August 13 so the appointee could take office when the current superintendents retirement becomes effective on Sept. 1. The motion was seconded and approved in a recorded roll-call vote.