Salinas Unified High School District narrows down Superintendent search

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Salinas Union High School District (SUHSD) Board of Trustees announced Friday that they've completed the fifth phase of their superintendent search, including the selection of potential candidates to fill the role.

Consultants from an independent search firm called Leadership Associates, completed background checks on applicants before conducting a special meeting on Tuesday for the Board to review applicants and select potential candidates, according to SUHSD.

"The community input is an integral part of the superintendent search process," said Dr. Jacki Horejs and Blanca G. Cavazos, Ed.D., co-directors of Leadership Associates regarding community participation in the process that began last July. "The collective input ensures a better candidate match for the position and the community."

According to SUHSD, the Leadership Associates reported a total of 982 community members completed an anonymous online survey with two public sessions with a total of 40 participants earlier this month.

Formal interviews for the position of Salinas Union High School District Superintendent will take place on Sept. 7 by the Board of Trustees, according to SUHSD.

Last May, Superintendent Dan Burns announced he and the Board agreed to begin the process to build leadership capacity in the district through beginning the search for his successor after serving 32 years as the Salinas Union High School District Superintendent. 

The entire superintendent search timeline is available here: https://www.salinasuhsd.org/About-Us/SUHSD/Superintendent-Search/index.html.

Salinas Union High School District Superintendent Dan Burns to step down from role

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- As summer break looms, The Salinas Union High School District will be looking for a new superintendent.

On Wednesday- Superintendent Dan Burns announced that he will be stepping down from his position after being the district superintendent for seven years.

In a video posted to the district's YouTube page, Burns said he is stepping away due to a recent health diagnosis.

"It became very clear that I needed to ensure the long-term stability of the district to pass the baton to a new leader to be a champion for the community and our students," Burns said in the video.

Burns said that that there will be a comprehensive selection process for the next superintendent.

Once a new superintendent is selected, Burns said that he will move into an advisory role for the Board of Trustees and incoming superintendent.

Before coming back to Salinas, Burns served as the Superintendent of Schools for Jefferson Union High School District in 2016-17.

Previously, Burns was the Associate Superintendent for Salinas Union School District from 1991 to 2016.

A district spokesperson told KION that there is no set date for when Burns final day as district superintendent will be.