Superintendent Search Resumes After Delay, Galera Withdraws

The Board of Education’s Search Committee announced that, after a brief delay, it will be posting the Superintendent position today.

The next step in the search process was delayed due to concerns about the process resulting from a press release last week that announced that former Board member Darrel Galera resigned from the Board to apply to be Superintendent.

Those concerns were resolved after former Board member Galera made a public statement yesterday withdrawing his intent to apply for the Superintendent position.

As a result, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation notified the committee that it would continue its financial support for the search through a grant it awarded to the Board.

“I appreciate that Darrel has reconsidered his decision to apply for Superintendent,” said Lance Mizumoto, chairperson of the committee conducting the Superintendent search. “The Search Committee continues to encourage all qualified candidates to apply and reiterates that everyone will go through the same screening process and every applicant will be considered on an equal playing field. All applications are confidential and no decision will be made until all applications are reviewed and appropriate interviews conducted.”

“The Search Committee appreciates the forthright statements of a public that is unafraid to speak up and who is passionate about the education of our students. As public servants, we have the same desire for a system that is transparent and have worked to develop a process that intends to provide this transparency and provides the public with the ability to provide feedback,” said Patricia Bergin, member of the committee conducting the Superintendent search. “We look forward to moving ahead in this process and completing one of the most important powers bestowed upon the Board of Education—appointing the Superintendent of our public school system.”

Last week the Board adopted a job description and characteristics for the Superintendent position to aid in the search for a new Superintendent. The Board released a survey to the public to get feedback from parents, students, teachers, administrators, community members, businesses, and other stakeholders on the most desired characteristics for a Superintendent.