With a plan yet to be developed, Fresno Unified trustees decided Wednesday to do both an internal and external search for Superintendent Bob Nelson’s replacement.

“The board is considering options for the superintendent search process and for purposes of transparency, the board will proceed with an external search for qualified candidates,” said board President Susan Wittrup. “The process will also include community participation. Further updates about the process and the timeline will be provided at subsequent board meetings.”

Trustees would not say what that process to find the new superintendent looks like. Wittrup called for a unified approach to finding a superintendent.

“We cannot allow fragmented, competing interests to continue to play bumper cars, we have to join together, ground ourselves and follow a process. I have faith that this board will do that and that we are committed to doing that,” Wittrup said.

Trustees Call for Transparent Process: What That is Yet Isn’t Clear

Trustees were supposed to return from their closed session by 6 p.m., but it wasn’t until 7:20 p.m. that the board returned and Wittrup made the announcement. Trustees Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas and Claudia Cazares declined interviews.

While Trustee Keshia Thomas did attend the beginning of the meeting remotely, after trustees returned from closed session, she was marked absent from votes during public session.

Trustee Veva Islas said the decision came in response to what community members had been requesting. Islas said no process has been determined.

Islas said the board would report after every closed session item discussing the superintendent search.

Related Story: Recruiter Withdraws From ‘Compromised’ FUSD Superintendent Search

The board still needs to find a search firm to guide the process, Islas said. Glendora-based Leadership Associates handled the community input process originally. Following the board’s decision to pause candidate interviews April 4, the search firm withdrew itself from conducted a wider search, calling it “compromised.”

Wittrup said the firm had compromised the process by providing an incomplete picture of what participants in community listening sessions wanted.

Islas said they want to be clear with what they expect from the next firm, but the board hasn’t fully decided what they want yet.

“We still haven’t defined that, I think there is us really being clear with the next firm about what we want and what we’re expecting them to deliver,” Islas said.

What Do Trustees Want from Next Superintendent?

Islas said the next superintendent needs to “right the ship” when it comes to student education.

“We need to continue to strive to figure out how we improve that so we can ensure that all students in Fresno Unified have the best opportunity to go on to successful careers,” Islas said.

While board members called for a “external search,” Islas would not say whether that still included internal candidates.

“There has been no definitive decisions other than there is general agreement that we need to expand the search so that was clear tonight,” Islas said. “That’s the best way we can be transparent.”

Community Calls for Transparency, Outlined Plan

Kay Bertkin, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Fresno said at the meeting the board could repair the damage done by their previous approach by moving quickly.

“It should be the board’s number one priority over the next weeks to agree on a renewed and transparent process,” Bertkin said.

Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teachers Association, said the decision was one that should have been made weeks ago. He added the decision didn’t come until after community outcry.

“It’s unfortunate that slim majority (of trustees) put this community through this process,” Bonilla said.

Bonilla said it was frustrating that a plan still isn’t in place. He said it feels more “piecemeal” as opposed to a unified plan.

When Long Beach Unified School District chose its next superintendent, the succession plan was discussed in public during Board of Education meetings, according to Elvia Cano, director of communications and public information for the district.

The district handled their own search and laid out the steps of the process.

The advisory committee selected by the board also held its meetings in public.

Community forums were streamed live via YouTube.

Bonilla said he wanted to see a public forum with the finalists, as State Center Community College District did.

“When it’s down to two, three people we want to know as a community what is that person’s vision,” Bonilla said.