San Diego Unified has extended the deadline for would-be-superintendents to get their applications in by two weeks.
The move comes after a superintendent search committee sent only five candidates to the school board on Tuesday, instead of seven as originally expected.
Board member John de Beck, who has been critical of the process, said it proved him right. Candidates were reluctant to expose themselves to public scrutiny, he said, which thinned the pool of viable candidates.
The three finalists are slated to be publicly vetted in a more open search than in years past. Critics have argued that such an open process is politically toxic for sitting superintendents whose home
districts will be angered by a wandering eye. Proponents such as school board President Richard Barrera say more transparency will help find a chief who is genuinely committed to San Diego.
Another potential factor is that the interim superintendent, Bill Kowba, has been openly praised by the school board. Candidates “thought Kowba had the inside track,” de Beck said, and didn’t bother to apply.
I’m getting more feedback from school board members about the delayed deadline; check back for more perspectives. Oh — and if you want to be the new superintendent, the Human Resources Office tells me your new deadline is June 4.
— EMILY ALPERT