Process to fill MUSD superintendent’s position underway

Following Monday’s decision by the MUSD governing board to re-assign superintendent John Flores to a position as principal at Santa Cruz Elementary (see related story), the process has begun to find his replacement.

The governing board, which took office in January, had looked at the legality of Flores’s contract, but ultimately voted 4-1 not to hire a lawyer to challenge the issue. Flores’s position as superintendent could be vacated, at the determination of the governing board and by contract stipulations, in one of three ways: improper conduct, reassignment or termination with full pay.

The superintendent’s position will be opened immediately to those individuals within the district who hold a valid superintendent’s certification.

Possible applicants include: Human Resource Director Tom Beckett, assistant superintendent Burnie Hibbard, newly hired ELL director Patricia Moreno, high school assistant principal Jeff Kleck and one unnamed special education teacher.

Those eligible to apply internally will have until Aug. 23 to submit their applications, which will then be considered by the governing board. If none of the district’s internal candidates are chosen to fill the position, an outside search for a viable candidate will begin.

Flores will remain as superintendent until a replacement is found; once transferred to the principal’s position, he will maintain his current salary of $119, 600. A principal’s salary is in the $65,00-$84,000 range.

Lynnette Michalski, the current principal at Santa Cruz Elementary, will remain in that capacity until Flores assumes those duties. She will then take over her new position as director of multiple projects for the district.

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