St. Helena taps a new school leader

The St. Helena Unified School District board agreed Thursday to hire Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley as the district’s new superintendent, replacing the retiring Allan Gordon.

The move is effective July 1, according to Trustee Cindy Warren. The decision came after a month of controversy which culminated in the abrupt resignation of SHUSD Trustee Jim Haslip on Monday.

After more than two-and-a-half hours of discussion in closed session, the remaining members of the board voted 4-0 to approve a two-year contract with Haley, with a base salary of $189,000 and a termination clause that entitles Haley to 18 months pay if he’s fired.

The hiring capped off a month-long uproar over whether the board should hire Haley to maintain continuity within the district or first conduct a talent search to see how he stacks up against candidates from outside the district.

“This was nothing that was entered into lightly,” said Trustee Cynthia Lane. “A lot of time and thought has been put into this. … I also have spent time at home in tears and sleepless nights. It’s been an incredibly hard thing to go through.”

Six members of the public addressed the superintendent hiring before the board entered closed session.

Maria Stel, a Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School parent, urged the board to hire Haley on a one-year basis and conduct an open search. She said she represented “not just a disgruntled few, but a concerned many.”

After the board approved his contract, Haley praised teachers, staffers, students and parents. He also had kind words for the board.

“You always take it back to ‘What’s going to benefit the students? How’s it going to help teachers teach students?’” he said. “I’m glad to hear that I have your full support, and I want you to know that you have my full support. I look forward to being here until I finish my career."

Haslip, who resigned on Monday, initially defended the board’s April 9 decision not to conduct an open search and to invite Haley to apply for the job.

But he said a barrage of e-mails and a strong showing by parents at a May 6 special board meeting changed his mind.

On Monday, he notified Gordon that he was stepping down immediately.

“My values and views reflect irreconcilable differences with my colleagues going forward on the most vital of matters,” Haslip told Gordon.

“I decided to resign before that official decision to enter into a contract (with Haley) took place,” said Haslip. “I didn’t want to be a part of that.”

The board has until July 11 to decide whether to appoint a new trustee or call a special election to fill Haslip’s seat.

6 comment(s)

jonb123 wrote on May 17, 2009 12:31 AM:

" A $275,000 salary surely does not benefit the students. "

glenroy wrote on May 17, 2009 7:46 AM:

" Register would The be doing the public a service reporting all public education salaries……… "

alucawanza wrote on May 17, 2009 12:19 PM:

" glenroy:
Go to the NVEA Website. The salary schedules are there for all parts of public education here in Napa. JAust google NVEA (Napa Valley Teachers Association). You can see all salary schedules including administrators, teachers, and classifed employees, as well as substiute teachers.
It's public info.
I don't understand why the St. Helena superintendent makes so much. How big is that district compared to NVUSD and John Glaser's salary? Are the job descriptions the same? How many schools does he supervise in St. Helena? "

lucylu wrote on May 17, 2009 3:13 PM:

" Now we know why the St. Helena School District is suing Napa County, for more money to be paid to their schools- they have to pay the salary of their new superintendent that takes care of a school district of a small town with a population of just under 6,000 people..compare that to Napa's population of just over 74,000...with a lot more students that are needing special ed programs..

I agree with alucawanza- how many schools does the new St. Helena Superintendent have to supervise compared to John Glaser- and let's compare the salaries shall we? "

Cossack88 wrote on May 17, 2009 9:18 PM:

" I live in the SHUSD. SHUSD has a $22 million budget and about 84% of it comes from property taxes as we are a basic aid district. 13.5% of our budget is dedicated to the adminstrators, clerical etc. 1.4% is allocated to school circullum. Allen Gordon is paid 229% more that the state average of a district our size. Our district consists of 4 schools and about 1300 kids. We also have a assistant superintendent that makes about $165k. All-in-all, SHUSD is "flush with cash" as Ms. Warren, a current board member, stated at the last SHUSD board meeting. There is a large group of SH residents that are starting to question the actions of the adminstration and the current board. Our special ed progream, what's left of it, is a joke. The controversy of the replacement of Gordon (the process appearing to have been contrived) and the resignation of board member Haslip has added fuel. Numerous members of this district have been horribly treated by the current adminstration which has been recently coined the "mean team". Overpaid adminstrators, badly allocated budgeted financial resources, a side-ways special ed program, and acts of intimidation by the adminstration equals bad policy. Something has to give. Glad to see that Napa is noticing. W/R/T to the lawsuits that SHUSD has filed with the County, whomever is right, I am embarrassed, as a member of this SH community, that our superintendent has taken this aggressive, in your face adversarial approach. It disgusts me. "

cossack88 wrote on May 17, 2009 9:48 PM:

" Correction - Gordon is paid 229% of the state aveage not "more than the state average". Sorry for the typo. But it still offensive! "

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