New BSED superintendent still under consideration

BRAWLEY — A new school chief to succeed outgoing Superintendent Ronald Garcia for the Brawley Elementary School District received substantial attention May 31 but a successor has yet to be named.

Meeting in closed session on Tuesday the school board interviewed four candidates, each of them getting an hour’s individual meeting, said Cesar Guzman, BESD board president.

During the interviews the board also held phone discussions with Ben Johnson, the California School Boards Association consultant who headed up the search team.

The team consisted of various stakeholders that included the Brawley Elementary Teachers Association, California School Employees Association, Cycles Phonological Pattern Approach (speech and language pathology), two parent volunteers and community members.

But the board has yet to reach a consensus. Therefore it will meet in another closed session next week. Before the closed session of last week, the stakeholders conducted their own interviews.

“All the stakeholders went over the strengths of each but did not recommend any one candidate,” said Peggy Emanuel, BETA president. “That way the board can go into closed session with an open mind.”

Outgoing Superintendent Garcia tendered his resignation on Feb. 9. The school board voted unanimously 5 to 0 accepting his resignation. Garcia’s work agreement was to have run through June 30, 2017.

But in consideration of his early departure Garcia has agreed to work to the close of business on June 30, 2016.

The BSED board also agreed to continue all of Garcia’s current employment agreement.

The one exception is there will be no performance evaluation for the 2015-2016 school year. He will also receive a salary percentage increase for 2015-2016 equivalent to the highest percentage increase given to any employee group with the district or five percent, whichever percentage is less.

He will also continue to receive all medical benefits he currently receives until he is covered by another source or until June 30, 2017, whichever comes first.

Garcia has thanked the current board as well as the previous board for all its support to accomplish the objectives it had set during his time in office.