Yick prohibited from reapplying for job Yick prohibited from reapplying for job (December 17, 2004)

Superintendent search moving forward

By Julie O'Shea

Despite wide speculation over Mountain View-Whisman Superintendent Eleanor Yick's future in the district, a previously unknown clause in her contract states she cannot apply for her position permanently.

Yick, who signed a 10-month contract in August with the district, was considered by some residents to be a viable candidate for the permanent job and had not previously indicated whether she was interested in it.

However, her contract stipulates that she may not apply for it, but trustees can offer to extend Yick's contract if they wish.

Yick, whose contract with the district expires June 30, said she is fine with this clause.

"I felt like it gave options to everyone," she said. "We wanted to leave it open for the new board." And, Yick added, it also gave her the opportunity to reflect on whether she wanted the job.

Yick said that she had told board trustees that if they planned to conduct a search for their next superintendent, she would not apply for the job.

Members of the school board have declined to discuss the clause in Yick's contract, saying it is a personnel matter, and they can't talk about it outside of closed session.

But the board's actions are more indicative. Setting aside $35,000, the board announced last month that it would conduct a statewide search for the district's next superintendent.

Juan Aranda, a losing candidate in last month's school board race who advocated the permanent hiring of Yick, said he was surprised to hear about the clause in Yick's contract.

"Good heavens. What kind of conditions are those?" Aranda said. "This is sending a mixed message. ... There is no reason for these people to be so set against her."

Some consider the contract's clause indicates the lingering differences between the Mountain View and Whisman school districts, which merged in 2001. Yick is a former superintendent of the Whisman district, but the majority of recent board members hail from the Mountain View district.

In the four months that she has been acting superintendent, neither the board nor Yick has stated publicly that she is prohibited from applying for the permanent superintendent position. And last week was the first time Yick said she would not reapply for her job. In 2002, she was passed over for the superintendent position when the board hired Jim Negri instead. Negri resigned in August to take a job with a Contra Costa County high school district.

Following Negri's resignation, trustees extended a 10-month contract to Yick, who had been the district's associate superintendent.

The school board drew up Yick's employment contract behind closed doors. Because closed-door meetings are considered confidential, trustees said they can't talk about why they chose to prevent Yick from applying for the job.

"That clause is in there, and I can't disclose why it was put in there," said board member Gloria Higgins.

Board president Ellen Wheeler has also declined to discuss the clause in Yick's contract. However, Wheeler has spoken favorably about keeping Yick on as superintendent. Wheeler was the only trustee to vote against hiring a firm to search for a new superintendent.

A copy of Negri's 2002 contract with the school board did not have a clause forbidding him from reapplying for his job at the end of the four-year term of the agreement.
E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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