A new era for Burton: Mendoza named new superintendent
A new Burton School District Superintendent was appointed Tuesday at their bi-monthly board meeting, where a verbal summary of the financial terms, and employment agreement were discussed.
Eddie Hernandez, BSD board president announced Sergio Mendoza, Porterville Unified School District director of assessment and accountability, as the new superintendent.
“We have a new superintendent everybody,” Hernandez said, as everyone in the room clapped for the announcement. “It has been a very lengthy process, we have exhausted all discussion and comments from the public and staff. The process has challenged the board, but also brought us closer together in our discussions and our vision for our district. Coming to the end of our year, we look forward to a new vision for the district.”
Regarding Mendoza’s financial terms, Debbie Estrada, BSD executive human resources director, explained his base salary for the 2018-2019 school year will be $187,000, but the actual salary paid for the superintendent will reflect the actual dates worked in the 2018-2019 school year. Mendoza will be provided the same health insurance benefits that are provided to other certificated staff at BSD.
Along with his base salary and health care benefits, Mendoza will be paid a master stipend of 1,030 dollars a monthly automobile stipend of 200 dollars.
BSD will also pay for membership in the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and the California Association of Latino Superintendent Administrators (CALSA). Mendoza’s normal work year will be 225 days, with no vacation days.
Mendoza stood at the front of the board room and said, “I just want to officially thank the board for giving me this opportunity. I look towards engaging and ensuring that 100 percent of our students have the opportunity to graduate from high school.”
Among the BSD staff, Mendoza’s wife, son, his two sisters and a friend
accompanied him at the board meeting.
“The dream that my parents gave me has come true,” Mendoza said. “They wanted education to be a big part of my person and it has become so. I also feel very blessed with this gift to be able to serve all the students. They deserve that, and I'm going to serve them 100 percent.”
The rest of the board, Obdulia Alvarado, Matt Mccracken and Dan Figueroa welcomed Mendoza to BSD. Board member Jay Rice was absent.
“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to become part of your family,” Alvarado said. “Welcome to our family and that's from the bottom of my heart.”
Mccracken said, “Welcome aboard.”
Figueroa added, “We've got a lot of public input, so this is where we are at. Congratulations.”
On behalf of the board, Figueroa expressed his gratitude to David Shimer, interim superintendent, for serving in his position since the beginning of the academic school year.
Eva Medina, student representative from the Summit Charter Intermediate Academy (SCIA) resumed the meeting with an update on the past school activities at her campus. No reports from the board of education were given due to their rigorous commitment to getting the new superintendent position filled.
Irene Ortega, BSD communication and community engagement officer, reported about the first elementary and high school Parents for Quality Education (PIQE) graduation, which will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Burton Elementary School cafeteria.
“We will be graduating about 20 parents,” Ortega said. “There will be a potluck organized by the parents who bonded so well, and we will be having atole, tamales, rice and beans.”
Alvarado is scheduled to speak at the ceremony, and Figueroa and Rice will also be there to hand out certificates.
Ortega said they are looking forward to the middle school PIQE class starting in January.
Estrada updated the board regarding BSD'S recent recognition of getting registered as a program sponsor by the State of California Commission of Teacher Credentialing.
“We are basically an institute providing services for our teachers. It's not a light item,” Estrada said. “We are now going to be responsible for a teacher having the recognition of their permanent credential.”
The board meeting ended with many good comments, recognitions and most importantly with a newly appointed superintendent.