HAYWARD SCHOOL BOARD | A $229,500 contract for interim superintendent Stan “Data” Dobbs was unanimously approved by the Hayward school board early Thursday morning, despite some controversy over his lack of an administrative credential and former employment with the district just over six months ago.
Board member John Taylor, who has been the strongest advocate for Dobbs and most intimately involved in trying to bring him back to Hayward was again supportive. “We have come up with a highly qualified person and I feel he will take us forward and move us through all the backlash and waste of time,” said Taylor. “He is a gentleman who knows business and knows how to operate a district.”
Board President William McGee was not pleased with the salary figure offered to Dobbs and had argued for it to be lower during closed session Tuesday. Last week, he claimed he was being “harassed” by people about his credentials. According to board member John Taylor, some of those people who were “harassing” him were reporters including The Citizen asking questions about his background. Dobbs had to be talked into coming back this past weekend after he suddenly told the board he was dropping his candidacy last Friday.
Dobbs’ contract amounts to big raise over the $173,000 he was earning in San Diego. The $229,500 contract in Hayward is similar to the salary of outgoing Superintendent Dr. Donald Evans. According to staff, Evans’s contract was used as a benchmark for the deal offered to Dobbs.
Board member Luis Reynoso also railed throughout the night against Dobbs. However, besides Dobbs’ salary, Reynoso wasn’t interested in having the appointee serving in Hayward at all. Reynoso argued that Dobbs was inexperienced and lacked the necessary credentials to oversee teachers.
“In the process of hiring an interim superintendent, keeping in mind we are the lowest performing district in the county,” said Reynoso, “we would need someone properly qualified.”. Reynoso further argued Dobbs did not have an administrative credential which requires at least three years of teaching experience. “Every superintendent in the county has been a teacher except for ours…The education process needs someone familiar with education.” It was debated by Reynoso if Dobbs could evaluate his assistant superintendents without an administrative credential. McGee stated that Dobbs would be able to review principals and other site administrators but it was unclear whether he could evaluate assistant superintendents. Staff has since then confirmed that Dobbs could in fact review assistant administrators without an administrative credential. Reynoso also questioned Dobbs’ commitment to the district.
Reynoso later added Dobbs spent less than two years in Hayward as a chief financial officer followed by just six months in San Diego in a similar capacity. No one backed Reynoso on this point Wednesday night, but McGee had previously stood against Dobbs returning to Hayward for the same reasons. McGee changed his vote on appointing Dobbs to interim superintendent two weeks ago when the majority of the board, Annette Walker, Taylor and Lisa Brunner, showed their support for Dobbs. Losing support against Dobbs moved McGee to likely cast a ceremonious vote.
However, despite McGee opposing the salary figure, he oddly argued to provide Dobbs with more than the agreed $7,500 in the contract for moving expenses in case Dobbs had to make multiple trips to San Diego. Taylor opposed, “I would caution against it because I would like the contract to stay intact. This is what he agreed to.” The rest of the board offered no support.
On-going discussion on revamping the board’s bylaws concerning superintendent contracts also happened to be on the agenda the same night the board was approving Dobbs’ deal. Undoubtedly, the debate repeatedly alluded to Dobbs. Reynoso used the opportunity to criticize Dobbs. “What if someone lied about their degree, their certificate? We need language here to reflect that,” said Reynoso. “What if somebody commits a very similar, serious offense?”
Steven Tavares contributed to this article.
ebcitizen.com 
Good luck with that demand! Your dues pay the salary of Ms. Faraj and her minions.
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Mercedes faraj is the ugly old dumb woman that sounds like a train wreck in school board meetings and continues to get a salary as a union president without ever being in the class room.
So why do you expect HUSD to hire a superintendent that also needed to be in the classroom. We are just a dumb community that promotes people like Lisa Dubmer in the school board.
I want my teacher union dues back.
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she is the daughter of Doris Rodrigues
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On a different topic, Isn't the Teacher's Union President, Mercedes (can't remember her last name) related to a former Hayward City Council person?
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Almost $230,000 a year for an interim position. Hell, HUSD must not have the same financial problems most school district have. I'll remember that the next time the school district floats another school bond measure. Hell no, not one more dime.
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11:28…you are completely wrong with your guess.
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@ 11:22 I think is the person that goes by MW
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but I want to know who is that wrote the long post about Mr. Will McGee
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4:50 I think you mean this one..
nonymous says: June 20, 2013 at 2:51 PM Reply
This is probably the hardest thing that I have in a very long time. To publish what the President of the HUSD Board of Education resorted to to at 12:55am today. However it is very important that this community know what the character of our elected officials is. It is important that actions like the one I a posting do not become the norm from our elected officials. It is important for me to “blow the whistle” on William McGee.
I am 68 years old, and until 12:55am this morning I have a been a strong supporter and what I thought was a personal friend to William McGee. He has asked for my assistance, in both his professional life and in his quest for political office, in the past and I have willingly given it.
During last night's Board of Education meeting I observed what I perceived to be less than professional conduct from Mr. McGee, the President of the Board. In an effort to make him aware of how his behavior might be seen by the viewing audience; and to give him some words of wisdom to consider, I sent a text message to his personal cell phone. This message was sent at approximately 9:30pm.
At 12:55am I was awakened from a sound sleep by my phone alerting me to a message. Fearing that something might be wrong with one of my children or grandchildren, I checked the message. To my surprise it was a less than polite message from Mr. McGee. In my half awake state I attempted to respond. What followed was a series of text messages filled with accusations and assumptions that became more and more rude, lasting for another 10-15 minutes. I was so shocked, upset and dismayed that my so-called friend would wake me at 12:55 to “put me in my place” I could not go back to sleep…not good for an old person.
I am anything but a whiner and can hold my own with almost anyone, and I thought long and hard about posting this information. However, I believe that the community needs to know how low the President of the Board of Education is willing to stoop to attack the messenger rather than to look inward at the message that was being delivered.
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Good story. Now I know for sure to take my kids out of HUSD
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Snooze…
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Look at the last posting on the first article about the contract. It is very long but very interesting.
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Reynoso is a broken record and needs to retire from the board and take his buddy Drake with him. Both of you waste so much of everyone's time with your ranting. Whenever either one of you speak I press the fast forward button. Move on. You have nothing to contribute.
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Good story guys! Keep the pressure on.
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