UPPER LAKE >> To aid its search for the district’s first superintendent, the recently established board for the Upper Lake Unified School District (ULUSD) plans to discuss possible courses of action at its second ever meeting today.
After public comment at 4:15 p.m., the board, in closed session, will consider four options: to work with Pat Iaccino (Superintendent of Upper Lake Union High School District, appoint a temporary superintendent, hire an interim consultant, or ask Lake County Superintendent Brock Falkenberg to fill the position on a temporary basis.
According to Falkenberg, the ULUSD board — which was appointed in December — isn’t likely to make a long term decision. He also hopes the board considers the options not involving the county.
“I don’t think they will choose a permanent superintendent,” he said. “They want to go through a process that is in the best interest of everyone involved.”
To the teachers of Upper Lake High School, their interest is in supporting the appointment of Iaccino. According to Upper Lake Teacher’s Association (ULTA) President Greg Madison, the faculty endorses him for his leadership qualities, academic record, and his long experience in the Northshore.
“Everybody is behind him 100 percent,” Madison said, adding that classified staff shares in his association’s opinion. “He’s been by far the best employer we’ve ever had.”
In a recent email to the Board of Trustees, ULTA expounded his merits and praised him for leading them through the economic downturn, declining enrollment, and the improvement of test scores. The letter further states that the district’s unification is one of the legacies he will leave behind.
“We feel he is most capable of laying the foundations all three schools need,” the email said. “In addition, he deserves to be rewarded for his faithful service for over a decade here in Upper Lake.”
Claiming to stay out of politics, Iaccino said that he respects the board’s judgement.
“I don’t know if I’m the right candidate,” he said. “Whatever decision they make … I will support it.”
However, Falkenberg said that the ULHSD superintendent’s appointment to a permanent role is unlikely to happen today because he is still an employee of his district, serving also as principal of the high school.
His opinion is that the board is leaning towards the concept of an interim.
One interim option may be former Lake County Superintendent Wally Holbrook, now the CEO of Education Leadership Solutions (ELS). If selected, Holbrook said he wouldn’t be a true interim superintendent, but be hired as an advisor to the Board of Trustees as it prepares to be solid, working school district in July.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to focus on education for the entire community. A chance to start fresh,” he said. “I could provide assistance to help them get started. What I bring is expertise and background.”
With an approximate 40-year career in education, Holbrook has served a superintendent for Konocti Unified in Kelseyville and two other districts in Yolo and Solano counties.
To hire him, ULUSD must enter into a short-term contract with ELS with a rate of $100 per hour with a maximum of 250 hours or $25,000. Although the board will make a decision before it, the approval of the contract is an action item on today’s agenda.
When asked about his price, Holbrook said it was “competitive and flexible.”
Regardless of the board’s decision, Madison stressed that the teachers of ULHS will be supportive.
“We aren’t throwing down ultimatums here,” Madison said. “We want a good working relationship.”
Parents and other members of the public can comment at the Upper Lake High School Library, immediately before the closed session is supposed to begin.
