Merced City Schools principals, staff want to be included in new superintendent search

Merced City School District principals and staff made two things clear to the school board during its Tuesday night meeting.

First, they are grateful that the board fired superintendent Diana Jimenez during a special meeting Friday.

Second, the district principals and staff want to have input on the hiring of the next superintendent.

Burbank Elementary School Principal Jill Settera said she was asked by many of her colleagues who couldn’t make it to the board meeting. Settera has worked in the district for 26 years, including the past 10 as a principal.

“Our message is to thank you,” Settera said. “Thank you for listening. Our school district has had the sad misfortune of hiring two superintendents — Al Rogers and Diana Jimenez — from outside our community, using consulting firms.”

“I’m here to tell you you don’t need a consulting firm,” Settera said. “You have over 1,000 employees to help you select the next right leader.”

Jimenez’s employment contract was terminated without cause during Friday’s special board meeting. Jimenez lasted less than a year in the district. The board appointed Jimenez as superintendent on May 24, 2022, and she officially started on July 1, 2022.

Associate Superintendent Brian Meisenheimer is now the acting superintendent. The board didn’t announce any decision on an interim superintendent during Tuesday’s board meeting.

Setter told the board the district principals support Meisenheimer as interim superintendent to bring consistency and stability in the district.

It’s been a tumultuous few years for the district’s top job.

Jimenez was selected as superintendent after former MCSD superintendent Richard “Al” Rogers resigned on July 1, 2021, following a civil complaint filed against him alleging sexual harassment.

Many staff members complained about the working culture in the district under Rogers and Jimenez.

“We are on the front line every day,” said Hoover Middle School Principal Julie Rivard during Tuesday’s meeting. “We take care of our students, we take care of our staff. This has been done with superintendents who didn’t take the time to know our campuses, who speak to us as if we are deficient and have not taken the time to listen to principal, teachers and classified staff.”

“No more drama, MCSD...We can no longer work in a culture of fear and intimidation,” Settera added.

Settera suggested to the board members that district leadership, site leadership, teachers and classified staff be part of the hiring committee put together to hire the new superintendent.

“We are MCSD,” Settera said. “We have the same goals as you do to make sure the right person is hired for the job.”

Merced City Teachers Association President Diane Pust asked for transparency during the superintendent hiring process. Pust said MCTA members weren’t included in the hiring of the past two superintendents.

“It’s time to stop being so secretive about the process,” Pust said. “Just like all other hires, MCTA and (California School Employees Association) need to be on those interview panels.”

The comments didn’t go unnoticed by the school board.

“We heard loud and clear today the need to incorporate voices that have never been at the table,” said Board Member Priya Lakireddy. “So maybe we kind of look at what this process looks like.”

“Teachers, staff, community leaders need or want to be part of this process and I think we ought to do that,” Reddy added.