Community members said the superintendent has engaged in a “top-down” approach to leadership.
Two years into Bill Sanderson’s tenure as superintendent of the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District, a slow-burning tension around his management style has suddenly escalated into some parents and teachers considering calling for his resignation.
Sanderson said collaboration and community engagement are central to his approach to leadership, citing his work to put together a strategic plan for the district last spring as an effort that relied on hundreds of community members participating in focus groups and meetings. “I would say please join one of our groups, we have multiple opportunities for folks to be involved,” he said.
Young, who expressed concern about the trustees’ renewal of Sanderson’s contract at their Sept. 24 meeting, said the renewed contract gave Sanderson the same 8% raise that the District Teachers Association Frustrations have also been mounting for parents – a change.org petition titled “End Dysfunctional Leadership, Pay our Teachers & Maintain our School Programs & Traditions” garnered over a thousand signatures as of Oct. 11. The petition cited several concerns, but ultimately called for the district’s board of trustees to offer more transparent communication with the community and ensure that the superintendent “engages” with the community, among other demands.
Those concerns from the music community came to a head at a town hall meeting hosted by the Saratoga Music Boosters on Wednesday.
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