Alum Rock school board fires second superintendent in just over a year

SAN JOSE Just over a year after the Alum Rock Union School District board fired its last superintendent authorities have shown another superintendent the door without any populace explanation After a special closed-session meeting Saturday the board broadcasted that the district will replace former Superintendent German Cerda with Sandra Garc a an assistant superintendent of instructional services This decision comes after the board on Thursday abruptly fired Cerda who stepped into his job last September Several parents and region members on Saturday criticized the trustees for the sudden switch calling for greater transparency in their decisions As a professor I want to say that right now I m feeling a little annoyed Maria Martinez a fourth-grade facilitator in the district described 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 also scolded the board Saturday for its handling of district leadership 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 reported The unexpected removal of our superintendent has caused considerable disruption at a critical moment just days before our students return to school The board hired Cerda last year to replace former superintendent Hilaria Bauer whom the board fired in March amid several district controversies Bauer was at the helm when a scathing state audit summary battered the district for financial mistakes made while managing several school construction projects among other issues With the new school year scheduled to start on Aug this leadership shakeup adds another layer of uncertainty for students and parents as the district continues to deal with a million budget shortfall declining enrollment and several school closures The district in December decided to shut down six schools redesign three and consolidate four others Board President Linda Chavez noted in a message Saturday that Garc a s capacity and focus will be a great asset to the district and I believe the board has made the right decision Ms Garc a is a highly respected career educator and her relationships and knowledge of the public we serve will give her and the district a positive advantage moving forward Chavez wrote Garcia explained in a report 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 group teachers and staff to have a strong start to the new school year Garc a brings years of district guidance experience to the job previously serving as a principal instructor and instructional coach among other positions the district noted She first started as a instructor for the former Mayfair Elementary School which is now called the Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center She helped ascertained the district s Adelante Dual Language Academy in and was named principal of the year in by the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce In a previous declaration Friday Chavez thanked Cerda for his institution to the Alum Rock schools group 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 public stakeholders to become engaged in this process so that together we can continue to aid our students and families and strengthen our locality Board trustee Corina Herrera-Loera declined to comment on the shakeup Saturday saying she is not authorized to speak to the media on behalf of the board She did say however that I think the group continues to be upset with how the majority of the board continues to move Herrera-Loera was the only trustee to vote against Cerda s termination this week and was one of two dissenting votes against the board s decision to fire Bauer last year San Jose District Councilman Peter Ortiz announced in an interview Saturday that families should still stick with the district but revealed the board s decision will negatively impact the students who remain in Alum Rock schools He mentioned with the latest shakeup the citizens is feeling chaos right now There is unfortunately an uproar in the region Ortiz announced I believe families deserve clarity I feel they deserve stability on their campuses Though the district continues to struggle Ortiz remained confident that the Alum Rock group s concerns will be addressed in the years to come He expressed confidence in Garcia who will take over as the district s top educator because she brings decades of experience in Alum Rock I think that the best years of the Alum Rock School District are yet to come Ortiz announced There is a bright future for this district