Pasadena School Board Hears Proposals From Four Firms About New Superintendent Search, Ponders Selection

Four companies presented their respective proposals for superintendent search services during the meeting of the Pasadena Unified School District on Thursday, August 3.  

The firms were asked to present their qualifications and costs to search for a new permanent District Superintendent in the wake of the resignation in June of longtime Superintendent Dr. Brian McDonald, who had served 12 years in PUSD, nine of them as Superintendent.

Deputy Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D., was subsequently appointed as Interim Superintendent on June 29.

The four firms that submitted proposals are Leadership Associates; Hazard, Young, Attea, Associates (HYA); The COSCA Group (TCG) and McPherson & Jacobson. 

At the meeting, the firms identified the services proposed to be rendered as well as the fees they require for the services. 

Leadership Associates has completed more than 650 executive searches, with the majority being superintendent searches, for California school boards since its founding in 1996.  Over 85% of the superintendents selected have remained in their positions for more than five years, according to the firm. 

The firm is asking for a $29,500 total fee to conduct the search.

This fee includes all expenses incurred by consultants, meetings with the Board, development and posting of the position description announcing the position, cost of advertising, acceptance of applications and responding to all inquiries regarding the position and recruitment of candidates and extensive background checks, among other services.

HYA has conducted over 1,600 searches throughout the West Coast and the country. Its long list of clients include Anaheim Elementary School District, Bellflower Unified School District and Bonny Doon Elementary School District.

The firm is asking for a $29,500 total fee to conduct the search and another fee amounting to between $2,500-$6,000 for travel costs. 

TCG, founded in 2000, boasts a 95% longevity of at least five years for superintendents it has selected. Its most recent clients include Temple City Unified School District, Marysville Joint Union School District, Keppel Union School District, and Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School District.

The firm is requiring a total fee of $25,500 which include providing Board support and guidance throughout the process, attending or participating in related meetings with the Board, conducting all community input sessions, providing an online survey for stakeholder input and other services. 

The fourth firm, McPherson & Jacobson, has been conducting searches for boards of education since 1991 and has placed over 1,000 superintendents and other officials in public and non-profit organizations across the United States, according to its presentation to the board. 

If chosen, the firm will charge a fee of $26,500 for the superintendent search, plus another $8,000 for other expenses including advertising and consultant travel.

Board President Michelle Richardson Bailey said the school board will choose a search firm among the four at the board’s meeting on August 24.

“We’ll come back on August 24th and just be prepared to make a decision on one of the firms.”

“Let’s kind of work on trying to digest all the information that we received this evening from each one of the firms. Make sure you review the proposals and then come back ready to make a decision on the 24th.”

The firm that will be chosen will help find candidates to replace former Superintendent Brian McDonald who left PUSD last June after 12 years in the district, nine of them as Superintendent.

Elizabeth Blanco, who has served as Deputy Superintendent since 2022, is currently serving as interim superintendent.