Former San Lorenzo Superintendent Picked as New Interim Head of Newark Schools

The Newark Unified Board of Education announced Tuesday night that Janis Duran will be hired as the district's interim superintendent. The board will meet with Duran in a closed session Friday afternoon to discuss details.

Duran currently serves as the interim superintendent for the Hayward Unified School District and has been superintendent of the San Lorenzo Unified School District.

Board President Charlie Mensinger said at Tuesday’s regular board meeting that Duran has agreed to assist the  as it searches for a new superintendent to succeed Kevin Harrigan. Duran lives in Newark, he said.

Mensinger added that Duran has agreed to work with district even if the board decides to hire someone after Saturday’s special board meeting in which .

The number of candidates to be interviewed at the June 18 meeting has not been disclosed, but Mensinger has said the interviews will likely take up most of the day. The interviews will be held at the district office in closed session, as allowed by California’s open meeting law.

At its June 7 meeting, the board approved a contract with Leadership Associates to provide consultant services to the Newark Unified School District during its search for a permanent superintendent.

The search for a superintendent began in early May, when the board met to interview candidates in a special meeting held at a board member’s home. At that May 6 meeting, parents and employees.

The board then held two meetings in which they invited the public to speak on what qualities they want to see Newark Unified’s next top chief possess. Board members also encouraged the education community to submit comments through email, phone calls, face-to-face conversations and through an anonymous survey.

Public comments were collected and Mensinger has said that the consensus is that the next superintendent be a leader who will be highly involved in the community, who is easily approachable and who will be a strong presence at school sites.

Harrigan left his post as Newark Unified’s superintendent this week to become superintendent of the Oak Grove Union School District in Sonoma County. He announced his resignation in .

Saturday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:15 a.m.

The contract for Duran's interim superintendent services is under negotiation.