Some parents in the Anaheim Union High School District are raising concerns that school board leaders are trying to rush a process to replace the district’s outgoing superintendent during summer break.
Earlier this month, Anaheim Union High School District Superintendent Michael Matsuda, who helped the district navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, announced on July 17 that he is retiring after 11 years of service on December 31.
“The board will find a new leader to take the district into its next chapter in a world where, according to leading economists, 25% of jobs will disappear in the coming years,” Matsuda said in a July 17 YouTube video announcing his retirement.
“Our kids need us more than ever and we need them. We need them to believe in a future where schools are places where they have opportunities to invent their future, where they can address and solve troubling challenges, where schools are preparing them for meaningful jobs and a fulfilling life.”
Matsuda’s announced retirement comes a little over a year after district officials decided against laying off 100 teachers to offset lost revenue due to a decrease in student enrollment – a challenge that school districts across the state are grappling with.
[Read: Anaheim Union High School District Scraps Dozens of Scheduled Teacher Layoffs]
The same day Matsuda announced his retirement, school board members discussed behind closed doors conducting an internal search for his replacement, opening up applications for the job one day later.
The application window closed on Monday July 28 at noon – 10 days after it first opened.
Germaine Neumann-Chau, the former Parent Teacher Association president at Anaheim High School, said it seems like an attempt to ram through a preselected candidate.
“Why would you only keep it open for a week? And in the middle of summer. People are still on vacation,” said in a Tuesday phone interview.
“Obviously you’re not interested in actually getting a pool of applicants here. You’re really opening it only up to like, one or two people.”
According to an email sent to district employees, applicants had to submit a letter of interest, their resume, a copy of their credentials and write responses to three prompts no more than 1,000 words each in their application.
Matsuda and Anaheim Union High School District trustees did not respond to requests for comment.
District Spokesman John Bautista pointed to a timeline posted on the district’s webpage in response to a reporter’s questions.
“In line with a confidential hiring process, the District will not release the names or number of candidates under consideration and will interview candidates in closed session,” reads the timeline.
“If a candidate is selected, the Board of Trustees will appoint a new superintendent at a publicly noticed Board meeting.”
It’s an appointment that could happen as early as August, according to the timeline.
Neumann-Chau questioned if the district would be effective in finding the best candidate especially since Matsuda won’t be leaving till the end of December and also questioned why the district also opened it to outside candidates as well.
“There’s really no reason to put it through the way they’re doing it,” she said. “They’re trying to limit the applicant pool which I don’t think is good for our community.”
Neumann-Chau is not the only one concerned.
Sofia Romero, a parent in the district critical of Matsuda, is also questioning if district leaders are searching for a new superintendent the right way.
“My concern is that we are not going to get a qualified person,” Romero said in a Tuesday interview. “I find it very unethical. It’s too fast. How do we know that this person that you’re choosing is not someone that is your buddy.”
She said the process should be heavily advertised across the district, allow outside candidates and take input from parents
Romero added that in her opinion Matsuda did not do a good job of engaging with families in the district and she hopes the new superintendent will be better at that.
The district also launched a survey for the community to put input on what qualities and values the new superintendent should have. The survey also closed on July 28 at noon.
Bautista did not say how many survey responses they got back.
Matsuda Announces Retirement
Matsuda started as the district’s superintendent in 2014 while serving as an elected trustee for the North Orange County Community College District.
He taught at both Orangeview Junior High School and Oxford Academy before he became a district administrator and superintendent.
“I appreciate really the fruition of what has come out of you being here and you taking a risk on all of us and saying yes and putting your hat in the ring to decide to be superintendent,” said Trustee Annemarie Randle-Trejo at the July 17 meeting.
“That was a very courageous and brave thing for you to do 11 years ago.”
Under Matsuda’s tenure, Anaheim Union became the first California Democracy School District – an initiative to teach students how to be engaged citizens.
Through his partnerships with Google and universities like UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton, Matsuda was able to expand dual enrollment programs, credential pathways and Artificial Intelligence learning environments across the district, according to a news release.
“You’ve helped shape not just how we educate, but why we educate, preparing our students for college careers and life,” said Trustee Jessica Guerrero at the July 17 school board meeting.
“The vision that you have brought forward has built a strong foundation for future generations.”
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.