Schools
Santa Monica School District Chooses Firm For Superintendent Search
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District could have a new superintendent by July 1.
SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District's search for a new superintendent continues, now helmed by an executive search firm, the district announced Tuesday.
Six-year former superintendent Ben Drati announced his unexpected departure on Nov. 18, 2022 after he was appointed Superintendent of nearby Bellflower Unified School District effective January 2023. The district in December named 23-year district veteran Mark Kelly as his interim replacement.
As Kelly leads the district through the remainder of its 2022-2023 academic year, the district has embarked on an executive search for Drati's permanent replacement under the advisement of Leadership Associates, an executive search firm working with school districts across California.
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The district expects to have a new superintendent beginning their tenure by July 2023, according to a message sent to district community on Tuesday.
"The school board is working with Leadership Associates to conduct a rigorous, nationwide search. The board will seek, receive, consider and review all input from the community, review all candidate applications, interview those candidates determined by the board and select the new Superintendent," the district said in a message to district community Tuesday.
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The board has also solicited community input through a survey that will be open through 4 p.m. on March 16. The survey can be found in English here and in Spanish here. The survey will advise the qualities, skills and experience weighted during the selection process, according to the district.
Applicants for the permanent superintendent role will submit their materials by 5 p.m. on April 4, at which point the district will conduct background and reference checks and select candidates for interviews in a closed session meeting. The board will make its final decision in May and draw up a contract in June at a regularly scheduled board meeting.
For more information on the district's search, visit this link.
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