Community Responds to Special Meeting Held in Household

A handful of parents and school employees expressed concerns over the Newark Unified School Board of Education's decision to hold a special meeting to interview superintendent applicants at a private residence Friday afternoon.

Sitting inside a living room, four school board members listened as community members said they felt uncomfortable with the process of finding a superintendent so far. Board member Janice Schaefer was absent from the meeting.

Those who spoke during the meeting's public comment session said the board's decision to interview candidates before releasing information on the process of finding a new superintendent seems untrustworthy.

Susan Eustice who retired from in October said she feels the board needs to gather input during the process of searching for a superintendent.

"The district is very much in a turmoil, and they really need someone who can really bring everybody together," Eustice said.

Eustice, who has worked in the district for 32 years, said she believes the board has no intention to act secretively but that a collaborative approach is necessary.

"I respect all of you. I just think this was a mistake to handle it this way, that you really need to get input from the public and the unions." 
 
Two parents said they understood that personnel issues must remain private but that they felt the process needs more transparency.

Cara Madden-Watson, co-president of the organization, said while she hopes the board will aim to make the process transparent, it seems anything but transparent at this time.

"I'm here today to ask the board how you are finding your candidates and how you are making this public for people around the state, around the district, interested in stepping forward for the superintendent's office," Madden-Watson said.

"I find it very strange that this meeting is being held in a private residence," she said while she sat in the home's dining room.

As of Friday afternoon, the position for Superintendent of Schools for Newark Unified School District had not been posted on EdJoin.org. Newark Unified Superintendent Kevin Harrigan.

Teacher and parent Pauline Kim added that she feels the process has not included all of the district's stakeholders.

"If we want the best, the most qualified person for the position, why haven't we posted it?" Kim asked. "In these difficult economic times, it feels as a community, we haven't worked together. …We want to help you. We want to work together."

Board President Charlie Mensinger said the meeting came together quickly Wednesday evening after candidates who he described as "very qualified" approached the district with interest.

He added that the decision to hold the meeting at a home was made because the board "thought it would be too much of a distraction and commotion" to do it elsewhere.

Board Vice President Ray Rodriguez said the board has met in residences before and that when they searched for a superintendent previously the meeting was held at a hotel. That option was not considered due to budget reasons, he added.

"We have to do a balance act: Make sure the public has the opportunity to comment but also protect the individuals and this is preliminary," Rodriguez said. "That's why we do it that way to protect everybody."

Rodriguez also said that the board will work to make sure that all stakeholders are involved.

"But it's important nowadays that we act quickly if we have a candidate we feel meets what we need in Newark — that's what we're trying to do here," Rodriguez said.

No action was taken at Friday's special meeting, and the board plans to discuss the process of searching for a superintendent at its next board meeting on May 17, according to Mensinger.

"This is only about trying to protect a person or person(s) confidentiality," Mensinger said. "We're trying to cover the confidentiality of the person or person(s) who are here or are going to be here," Mensinger said.