SAN JOSE — Simply over a 12 months after the Alum Rock Union College District board fired its final superintendent, officers have proven one other superintendent the door with none public clarification.
After a particular closed-session assembly Saturday, the board introduced that the district will change former Superintendent German Cerda with Sandra García, an assistant superintendent of educational companies. This resolution comes after the board on Thursday abruptly fired Cerda, who stepped into his job final September.
A number of dad and mom and group members on Saturday criticized the trustees for the sudden swap, calling for larger transparency of their selections.
“As a teacher, I want to say that right now I’m feeling a little annoyed,” Maria Martinez, a fourth-grade trainer within the district, advised the board Saturday. “The transparency hasn’t been there in this piece of the work that you’ve done. … A concern that I have is, moving forward, what will your evaluation process look like?”
Suyen Jimenez, a district principal, additionally scolded the board Saturday for its dealing with of district management.
“We come before you with heavy hearts and a deep sense of responsibility to our students, our teams and the future of our district,” Jimenez stated. “The unexpected removal of our superintendent has caused significant disruption at a critical moment, just days before our students return to school.”
The board employed Cerda final 12 months to switch former superintendent Hilaria Bauer, whom the board fired in March 2024 amid a number of district controversies. Bauer was on the helm when a scathing state audit report battered the district for monetary errors made whereas managing a number of college development initiatives, amongst different points.
With the brand new college 12 months scheduled to start out on Aug. 13, this management shakeup provides one other layer of uncertainty for college kids and oldsters because the district continues to cope with a $20 million finances shortfall, declining enrollment and a number of other college closures. The district in December determined to close down six colleges, redesign three and consolidate 4 others.
Board President Linda Chavez stated in a press release Saturday that García’s “energy and focus will be a great asset to the district, and I believe the board has made the right decision.”
“Ms. García is a highly respected career educator and her relationships and knowledge of the community we serve will give her and the district a positive advantage moving forward,” Chavez wrote.
Garcia stated in a press release Saturday: “I’m humbled that the Board has entrusted me with the great responsibility to serve Alum Rock students and their families. I look forward to working with our amazing leadership team, teachers, and staff to have a strong start to the new school year.”
García brings 35 years of district training expertise to the job, beforehand serving as a principal, trainer and educational coach, amongst different positions, the district stated. She first began as a trainer for the previous Mayfair Elementary College, which is now referred to as the Cesar Chavez Early Studying Middle. She helped discovered the district’s Adelante Twin Language Academy in 2004, and was named principal of the 12 months in 2013 by the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.
In a earlier assertion Friday, Chavez thanked Cerda “for his service to the Alum Rock schools community and to the students and families we serve during this period of transition in the district.” She added that the district is “excited and hopeful for the opportunities before us. We encourage and welcome all community stakeholders to become engaged in this process so that together we can continue to support our students and families and strengthen our community.”
Board trustee Corina Herrera-Loera declined to touch upon the shakeup Saturday, saying she shouldn’t be approved to talk to the media on behalf of the board. She did say, nonetheless, that “I think the community continues to be upset with how the majority of the board continues to move.”
Herrera-Loera was the one trustee to vote in opposition to Cerda’s termination this week, and was considered one of two dissenting votes in opposition to the board’s resolution to fireside Bauer final 12 months.
San Jose District 5 Councilman Peter Ortiz stated in an interview Saturday that households ought to nonetheless “stick with the district,” however stated the board’s resolution will negatively impression the scholars who stay in Alum Rock colleges. He stated with the most recent shakeup, “the public is feeling chaos right now.”
“There is unfortunately an uproar in the community,” Ortiz stated. “I believe families deserve clarity. I feel they deserve stability on their campuses.”
Although the district continues to battle, Ortiz remained assured that the Alum Rock group’s issues shall be addressed within the years to return. He expressed confidence in Garcia, who will take over because the district’s prime educator, as a result of she brings a long time of expertise in Alum Rock.
“I think that the best years of the Alum Rock School District are yet to come,” Ortiz stated. “There is a bright future for this district.”
