Why this matters
The search for the next National School District superintendent, who will oversee operations across 10 campuses that serve about 4,000 students, comes as others in the area are also looking for a new top administrator.
A search for the next head of the National School District is underway after its superintendent announced her plans to step down.
Superintendent Leighangela Brady said she intends to retire in June to focus on her family. Board members are looking to identify a consultant to help them fill that position before the start of the 2026-27 school year.
“We want to have the best choices and so we need to get a move on the process,” said Trustee Michelle Gates during a board meeting last month.
Board members at the South Bay district aim to hire a superintendent by July 1, but they won’t be the only ones looking.
Several superintendents across school districts in San Diego County have recently announced their retirement, including at Julian Union and Valley Center-Pauma Unified. Del Mar Union also saw its superintendent exit earlier this year, though the district has since filled the position.
The pay rate for superintendents in California has also skyrocketed over the past couple of years as it has become a harder position to fill. Last year, Brady earned a salary of nearly $250,000 plus benefits, according to Transparent California.
“There are several superintendents who said that they intend to retire and you don’t want to be the odd man out,” said board member Alma Sarmiento during the meeting.
Sarmiento, who has served on several superintendent hiring committees during her three decades on the board, also cautioned that expanding to a nationwide search is typically more expensive.
During last week’s meeting, the board decided to form a steering committee to help narrow search firm options.
Sarmiento and board member Maria Betancourt-Castañeda volunteered to be part of that group. The entire board will ultimately vote on a final proposal.
However, the district doesn’t necessarily have to hire a search firm.
Board members have wide discretion when it comes to hiring a professional service like a search firm, said Robert Cochran, the district’s assistant superintendent of business services, during that meeting. They can either request proposals from different firms to independently select one or conduct several interviews with a few, he said.
Cochran cautioned that completing a request for a proposal would take some time, including notifying different search firms about the opportunity, having them apply and checking their references. But the board ultimately decided to post the request on its website.
A review of other superintendent searches across the state shows the cost of hiring a consulting firm for this service depends on the district’s size and complexity, and can vary — from as low as roughly $20,000 and and as high as $150,000. But that additional cost could stress the district’s budget further.
The National School District — which has an operating budget of about $92 million — is in a $16 million hole this year, according to its latest financial report. Officials have spent more money than it brought in for the past couple of years, and have offset that by using extra money left over from previous years. The trend is projected to continue.
Next year, the district faces a budget shortfall of about $9 million and $200,000 for the 2027-28 year, according to financial reports that were released in June.
Board members are seeking proposals and quotes from organizations and individuals to lead the superintendent search, including a proposed approach and projected timeline.
The board plans on vetting several search firms by Dec. 10. After district staff’s initial review, the board will invite select firms for a public interview and select its preferred proposal during a public meeting on Jan. 21.
Type of Content
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.