SAN YSIDRO – San Ysidro school trustees last night decided they won't hire the man they had announced as their next superintendent.
On Aug. 1, the board identified Calexico schools chief David Alvarez as its finalist for the job. The board said his hiring was contingent upon the results of a visit to his district and agreement on a contract.
But neither the visit nor the contract appeared to cause last night's about-face.
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A Google search did.
When third-grade teacher Zenaida Rosario read about the board's selection, she did an Internet search and found blogs that criticized Alvarez's early departures from previous jobs and questioned his ability to manage finances. On Aug. 8, she wrote to board members to warn them. Other teachers who learned about Alvarez on the Internet did the same.
Alvarez was paid to leave two previous superintendent jobs, and he stayed away from the office for at least the last month of a contract that was not renewed in a third district.
During a 2½-hour closed session last night, the board voted unanimously not to hire Alvarez.
Alvarez was at the meeting earlier in the night but was not present for the announcement.
Despite the discouraging outcome to the four-month search, the meeting turned celebratory when the board said Manuel Paul, the assistant superintendent for human resources, would serve as interim superintendent effective Monday.
Applause and shouts of “Bravo!” greeted the news. Several trustees choked up as they lauded Paul. Trustee Raquel Márquez-Maden even recalled then-middle school principal Paul taking her to Coco's to celebrate her spelling bee victory.
Paul grew up in San Ysidro and has worked for the district for 33 years. He applied for the superintendent's job this spring but was not granted an interview.
Two weeks ago, San Ysidro board President Paul Randolph said that the board had chosen Alvarez primarily on the basis of his five-year record in Calexico and that he didn't know much about his previous history.
Alvarez has led schools very much like San Ysidro's – a border district where a majority of students do not speak English fluently – to steady test score gains.
But by Wednesday, Randolph was hedging. He said information that had come to light since the board's announcement had prompted board members to think hard about their candidate before officially hiring him.
The search firm that brought Alvarez to San Ysidro did not reveal his early departures from other districts, Randolph said. The board selected the firm, Visalia-based International Group, knowing that it employs Gilbert Anzaldua, who has been serving as San Ysidro's interim superintendent. He will leave the district in two weeks.
San Ysidro is paying International $18,000 plus expenses. It was not the lowest bidder for the search contract.
Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637;
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