A disconcerted School Board heard some criticism of their plan for hiring a new superintendent at a Town Hall meeting last night. Reporter Mike Lipsitz was there and files this report…
More than 75 people turned out last night at Friendly Hills Elementary to share their thoughts on selection of a new district superintendent with the Morongo Unified School District Board. County Superintendent, Dr. Gary Thomas, opened the meeting by advising the board that selection of a superintendent is a board’s most important responsibility. Then more than 35 stakeholders representing parents, teachers, and staff offered input. The recurring dominant concern had nothing to do with the characteristics of the ideal candidate. To the obvious displeasure of Board President Chris Proudfoot, speakers questioned the process which the board would use to attract a qualified pool of candidates. The decision to sidestep the $35,000 to $40,000 services of a professional recruitment firm were called penny wise and pound foolish for a district with a $72 million operating budget. Board clerk Donna Munoz suggested professional services may have to be revisited considering the District has received only eight applications for the position.
