001Good evening, Hollist, and welcome to a special meeting of the Hollist School Committee on February 3rd, 2026. Um, it's 7:02 and we are ready to begin. I will call to order. And >> um so at this meeting we um we've been doing a lot of interviewing and working on um our superintendent search and tonight we just have the one agenda item for our regular session which is deliberation of superintendent candidates. Um I wanted to start the meeting by just kind of briefly reviewing um the process that we've been going through over the last few months. Um let's see where are my notes? Okay. Um so we started this process back in the fall. Um we um worked with HYA which is an executive search firm. Um they helped us pro we worked on a community
002survey um that which went out to everyone. It went out to students, teachers, community members, um staff, people with children in the district, people um parents, you know, um people without uh students in the district. Um so we from that survey we received over 600 responses which was um a great response. Um we also ran a number of interviews and forums with students, teachers, paras, administrative uh admin staff, support staff, nurses, HFT leadership, the PTO, HMAPA, CPAC, diverse Hollist, town officials, parks and wreck, youth and family services, the center, the we worked with the police chief, the fire chief, emergency services. We also ran two community forums. One was in person, one was via Zoom. We really did our best to try and reach as many people um as we could because we wanted to
003gather as much information as possible to help us understand what is our district needing and looking for right now in a superintendent. Um all of that information was compiled to help create a leadership profile of the candidate that um would be that best fit. um with the help of the search firm um about 60 candidates were recruited and then from those 60 candidates about 29 candidates applied um and then from that selection we ended up with six [snorts] people that were interviewed over the course of a weekend as semi- finalists and at this point we have three finalists that we're considering tonight. Each of the three finalists spent a day in the district last week. Um the finalists met with students, they met with staff, town officials, school committee. Um they took tours of all
004of the schools. Um they had a very long day and we thank them for uh really um spending their time with us to learn about the district um because it's a fit both ways. It's a fit for us and a fit, you know, for them. So, we're really trying to make sure that we get that that cohesion where we're going to be able to work wonderfully together as we move forward. Um, their day ended with a 90minute interview. Um, and that was broadcast and recorded. Um, and uh, we really appreciate that so many from the community um, took time in a very short period, you know, over the weekend. um they watched the interviews, they either did it live or via YouTube. Um we're kind of amazed that the YouTube recordings show over between 600
005and 800 views um for each candidate. So to me, that's a really remarkable number considering it was a tight turnaround. We know it was a tight turnaround and we appreciate the you know the community's attention to to this really important matter over the course of the weekend. Um, additionally, we received excellent feedback from um, so many of you via either um, the feedback form that we sent out. Um, but we also got a lot of emails and phone calls and, you know, even stopped on the sidewalk kind of conversation. So, um it just it really stood out to me that people are really interested, invested, and um really eager to support the schools and to help us make a good decision for the district. So, again, I can't thank everyone enough for their um support
006and and interest in this um decision. So, at this point, we're really trying to find that best fit for the district. Um, we have three really wonderful candidates that each have their own strengths. Um, and I think each of them would make a great superintendent. So, right now we have the really difficult decision to choose the one that we think is that best fit. Um, it's probably for me it's one of the hardest decisions we've made so far. So please, you know, bear with us because um I know the the feedback was really candid and passionate and um caring and thoughtful. I thought people took time to really explain um the strengths that they saw in each of the candidates. Um and I I was really just impressed to read read all of the the
007reviews. So, um, it really did help inform our decisions as we're moving forward. So, thank you. Um, let's see what else. Um, so I just want to sincerely acknowledge how grateful we are to have such highly qualified and strong candidates that we can take under consideration as we prepare to deliberate and vote. I also want to emphasize that regardless of the outcome, the selected candidate will have the full and unified support of the entire um school committee as we move forward. Um and I want also for the public to understand that this is our deliberation. We this is where we really discuss with each other what we think um is going to be the best fit. Um, and we'll probably focus mostly on the positive qualities that the that each of these bring each of
008these people bring to the um could bring to our district. So, um, anyway, with that, I I don't have anything else that I would like to say. So, I don't know, Hillary, would you want to start us off? >> Sure. Um, yeah, I agree. I I'm really was enthusiastic about the community engagement in such a short period of time and also that we had a really three really strong candidates I felt. Um so this has been a really difficult decision to consider over the weekend. Um throughout the past week, in addition to attending the community forums and the interviews, I've been re-watching um the candidate interviews. I've been reading the survey responses and considering the different strengths and experiences that each candidate brings. Um I felt we had a really strong pool and all three
009have the experience and skill to be um good leaders. But that being said, in making a decision, I like Sarah said, want to consider what I feel Hollist needs most at this time. um thinking about the MSBA process, the high school um potentially difficult budget years and the ability to lead and unite our district to the changes ahead. So with that in mind, I feel like Dr. Parson and Dr. Carter have the experience that might be the closest match to what Hollist needs right now. And I'd like to recommend Dr. Kimmo Carter as our next superintendent. Um throughout his interviews and the community forums and from speaking with staff who have worked directly with him, I heard some clear themes that spoke to the experiences and key areas that would benefit Hollist, namely a deep
010knowledge of curriculum instruction and a strong commitment to equity and student belonging. Um throughout the interview process, he shared multiple examples that demonstrated this his commitment in action. He spoke about making decisions grounded in core values, especially during uh moments of conflict or emotionally charged situ situations. He discussed taking a proactive stance on equity and inclusion. um discussing his work on a DEIB committee in Weston and his role in developing a long range DEI plan, emphasizing curriculum that integrates these themes, the use of universal design for learning or UDL, um and maintaining high expectations for all students and highlighted examples where they brought in grading for equity and um really valuing students cultural and language backgrounds as assets. Um, I also felt he demonstrated a collaborative and community focused leadership style, sharing examples of instructional
011walkthroughs, team-based delegation, um, building strong community, uh, learning communities, and developing pipelines for pair professionals to become teachers. Um, finally, I would say that he brings um, a lot of experience in emphasizing student agency, which aligns well with the work that is already happening in Hollist. He shared examples of the high school citizenship course in Weston promoting student voice and classroom learning and encouraging students to serve and participate actively in their community. Um so based on the experiences he shared and that we learned about him, I feel like he would be the strongest in um supporting the programs that are already in place in Hollist and further enhancing and elevating student learning experiences. >> Thank you. Um, Frank, do you want to go next? >> Yes, I can go next. Um, I voiced what Hillary
012said and I won't repeat anything. Um, but at the same time, I think all three candidates shown definitely strength in different areas which made this decision all that much harder. So, for me, uh, it came down to where do we need the most help, right? Where do we need the most growth? I think through all the interviews you heard and and I think through all the discussions we've had uh and continue to have um you know the budget and our MSBA is probably the biggest unknown. Um the budget we have a handle on the MSBA it's a whole new journey for all of us in many ways. Um but I also think the word trust came up a lot in the community survey and building trust with our community. Uh and that's not just words
013but actions and and bringing different organizations together, our different boards together, parents, teachers, uh staff, central office, school committee um is not easy. Um so um in looking at the experience that all three candidates had um I do believe for me it was between uh Dr. Carter and Dr. Parson um with both having clear examples of leadership in in different ways. Um and all positive uh I think areas where we would grow from either of their leadership. Um for me because I thought through more and uh like Hillary going through the interviews I think twice now I've gone through them. um the feedback every which way you can slice dice and review. Um getting calls, texts, uh conversations, the most conversations I've had on the phone, I think in a very long time. Um all
014very good conversations as as I dug deeper um and really came down to the wire. I I truly believe our community needs a unifier and in that I see the strongest candidate in Dr. Kim Carter. Um I everything that he said in terms of how he not just brings the educational system to a whole new level, building on the programs that we have, but honestly being humble about not knowing all the budget pieces and we have to figure out the MSBA and being able to say that as a huge step forward, at least for me, that he will learn. If you come in and say you know that thing those stuff uh those processes and you don't, then you're you're behind. So I do think he we will certainly as a community need to support
015him in that but the positives that he bring to our community is immense. Um you know I think one big thing that stuck me with in his interview was having uh conversation with the denters even after the debate is done right and that's that's not easy to do. um you know when you have a strong debate and you win you you walk away and but I think for him to to have that courage I think is important because that's not the last conversation we'll have with likely the other party like we have to continue it um building up our union partnership with our our union leaders the the teachers and staff I think we've seen years challenging years and I'm hopeful for the uh the years ahead with with if he were to accept it
016and and this proceeds with him I I think he will bring a lot of positive momentum uh with um you know all parties involved especially as we go into a negotiation year. Um yeah I I there was the only downsides being and then just um is the budget and and MSBA piece and I I do think we could get over those though. So that's why it did not play a huge role in in my decision. >> Tracy or Joe, who wants to go next? [laughter] >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So I second um and I third what uh has been said about the quality of the candidates. That's definitely been impressive and it has been a tough decision and the community has been great about reaching out. Um the question came up frequently for me
017as I was sort of reflecting on all this um and from some of the people I've spoken with like what does our district need at this point? And for me I'm sort of focusing on four pieces. Um and I think that's sort of overseeing the excellence um that is currently being done and where we can move that forward. um managing the stakeholders, communication between the parties, bringing those all together, certainly the MSBA pro um project as well as direct operations, and then this community, this idea of bringing our community together, both um outside of the school system together. Um with that in mind, um for me, Jen Parson is actually um I think the best candidate to do all of those things. I think it's important to choose a candidate that can do that has
018experience with all four and not just excellence in one area. And um so kind of breaking down those things, each of those areas for me. Um the curriculum instruction piece is huge. Uh we're here to educate our children and move forward with that. Um but we are about to enter into a process to hire a curriculum instruction instruction um director. So for me, although that is an important piece, I focus a little bit more on um the experience in bringing programs up that we already have in place. Um I don't think we're a district that needs to start from the ground up. I think we have a lot of solid programs and a lot of great educators doing good work that we need someone who can bring that together and elevate but not recreate um
019and work with the curriculum instruction director not sort of take over from them. Um I was really impressed with Dr. Parson when she talked frequently about not just coming up with these ideas but what the implementation looked like when she actually um put them into the classroom. I've worked in education long enough to know that buzzwords and new initiatives come up constantly and the teachers on the ground are, you know, they understand what it really means and they're the ones that are actually doing that work. And for me, Dr. Parson was one that could actually make the work on the ground in the classrooms sort of come to life a little bit better. Um, I also liked her focus on differentiated learning and DEI with the curriculum that we have in place as well. Um
020and I like the she was looking at what the outcomes were for all of these programs with that um in mind. Uh second part sort of the managing personnel. Uh for me the education community is not that big. Um and I was you know I had a number of uh colleagues in different districts that have worked with um Dr. person and I didn't get any negative response and it was from par profofessionals, teachers, people who again are doing this work and spoke so highly of her as a leader in their communities and I always sort of take with a grain of salt when you're calling references or checking with people who are in sort of higher level positions because um I I don't know this often times an angle whereas the people that are in
021the school doing the work and so I put a lot of um sort of faith than that. I also like that Dr. um Parson was on the school committee. I think it's a unique perspective that um she has because she knows what it's like to sit at this table, what it's like to have the community look at us and judge everything that comes out of our mouth, everything that we say. Um and she spent I think it was nine years um doing that work and that's I think important. Um I also liked when she spoke about her collegial relationships that she has with partnering schools in terms of our teacher retention and bringing in diverse candidates. that's how we're going to get our name out there. We're a small town sort of not even close
022to the highway. So, having the ability to bring in students from some of her those partnerships, I think is would be really important for our vision and our um district. I also think experience is really going to matter with the MSBA project and her involvement with that in I believe it was North as well as still staying in touch with that network of people in that community um who are doing this work and working with us. that's going to only be an asset um as we move forward with that. Um and then I also sort of that first part that the community um not just for our school-based stakeholders, but I think the community [snorts] is really deserving of a leader who's going to be part of our everyday fabric. And so it's one thing
023to show up at um you know sporting events or musical events or things like that, but I think Dr. Parson herself mentioned that she, you know, will run if we shop in the same grocery stores or we're at the same Target checkout line. And I think that's a different level of um vested interest and success to be so close and be so part of this community that I I think she'd be fabulous of, you know, the the ability to respond to comments and interactions and really be a part of our community versus sort of removed and come in to do the school day and removed from the school day. Um, so with all that said, I think Dr. Parson has not just one piece of our educational puzzle. I think she has all the pieces
024that we truly need. Um, and her experience I think matters a lot. >> Um, before I begin, I just wanted to uh give kudos to the screening committee. Um, you had a very difficult decision and you put a lot of work into the process and you've given us three phenomenal candidates and we're very appreciative of that. Um, I wanted to thank the community for all of their input, whether that was through text, in-person conversation, office hours, um, messages, and the Google sheet that we sent out. Uh, all of that input was valuable and it's going to help us make our decision this evening. Um, I think Kim Carter is a great candidate. Um, I appreciate that he's averse to top- down leadership and and like he said, rather leading from the middle and uh collaborating
025with everyone in his current district. Uh, I love that he involves students in his decision-m and and and I think that someone with his personality can restore trust, but I do want to speak in favor of of Jen Parson and uh Tracy kind of stole my thunder. Um, I think that experience matters. Uh she's been in leadership for 25 years in education, including as a current superintendent. She does the work now. Um as Hillary said, budgeting is very difficult year in and year out. She has experience with budgets, albeit a little smaller, but uh she does have that experience. I think that with our MSBA project coming up, um it's important to have someone who can hit the ground running. And in her interview, she had uh mentioned that she has experience with that. Um
026and finally, as Tracy said, uh she has sat in our seats. I mean, granted, another town, but uh she's been on a school committee and she knows what it takes to build a relationship with a superintendent, um because she has done it. Um, and so with that, I I I hope that we move forward with Jen Parsons. >> Thank you. Um, should I go? I think I'll go if that's okay. >> Sure. I'll go. Um so I am looking back at um kind of the characteristics that that rose to the top after we did the survey and developed the leadership profile and it's was talking about for fostering a positive professional climate climate of mutual mutual trust and respect among faculty staff and administrators. That was what came out as the top top uh criteria
027that we're looking for. Um, and I sat in on one of the community forums uh with Kimo Carter and what stayed with me when he answered his first question, one of the first questions that came from the from one of the community members um had to do with how would he deal with difficult people? um because there's always there's always people who are a little more confrontational whether it's a parent or someone who doesn't like um something that's going on in the school or in the community. Um and I really appreciated how he answered that question and he talked about um taking on an approach that really went into try and understand what was behind the concern. Um he said that usually it's something becau it's something that the person deep down cares about very
028much and it often has to do with their own child. And so he just brought um an he kind of looked behind what the confrontation was to understand what was the real underlying reason for it. and he talked about it being a really noble thing to be out there looking out for your child and and advocating for them [snorts] and that as a leader he would really try and understand um what people were coming to him for, you know, with issues really look beyond the issue itself and understand where they were coming from. So I I liked I liked that approach. Um it felt very kind and understanding and patient and felt like it would be an example of how he would create connections with um not just parents but teachers, staff, um the whole
029community. So to me um his focus on core values um his approach to collaboration listening with curiosity, respect and kindness uh working toward building trust and valuing input. Um it it all led to a high level of emotional intelligence that I thought would be really beneficial for us to have as a leader. Um again, some of the things that Hillary and Frank um shared, but the way he responded to talked about responding to hate incidents, his support of DEI, um you know, really the understanding that our students can't learn well if they don't feel safe and supportive first. So that was kind of the core way that he was um viewing how to make student success um paramount. Um let's see. um he's coming from an incredibly rigorous district. So I expect that he will
030bring um that type of rigor here as well and that focus on um academic excellence. Um ultimately I just got the sense that his leadership skills would really help us to foster a culture of mutual respect among staff, administrators and the community. um he was very thoughtful in his responses and genuine and um so I guess for me uh Kimo Carter is who I would love to see here at the district um moving forward. So >> do you have thoughts? You do you have any thoughts? Sure. >> I usually do. Um, boy, this was this was this was a tough one and and for all all good reasons. Um, I I, you know, went back and forth all all weekend and and really kind of uh struggled more than I expected I would with with
031this decision. I think that we um have three, you know, strong candidates. Um, I did narrow it down to to to. who I just I think that at the end of the day um I wanted someone with a sim from a more similar sized district to us or with with experience in similar sized districts. And so you know it came down to to Dr. Parson and Dr. Carter for for me I I boy it was tough. I loved you know Dr. Parson uh experience on the school committee and and sort of the the work she's done and coming from Hopington knowing the region. I I loved a lot of the stuff that Dr. Carter talked about with the network and you know being in the center of the network and really kind of you know
032being inclusive with with with all views and and so it was really I mean for me it was sort of almost a tie and then we started sort of getting some the the community feedback and and I think that one of the things that you know I don't feel like I've done great in in my time on the school committee is sort of listen to the community as much as I think maybe we should have and sometimes there's a good reason for that. We have asymmetric information. We know things that, you know, sort of are are moving our opinions one way or the other. But in this case, there really wasn't any asymmetric information. I mean, these the people were who you saw them to be. We weren't getting uh, you know, lots of, you
033know, reports about issues or anything like that. So, it really wasn't. And so as I look through the the the comments from from regular community members who don't have kids in the school, parents and guardians um the staff and um and and students um you know it was it was pretty evident that across the board to to varying degrees uh you know Dr. Carter was the um was the sort of uh favorite amongst the community of those who sort of voiced a specific sort of candidate that that they wanted. And so I kind of I kind [snorts] of at the end of the day sort of let the scales tip based upon that feedback. And so um you know I think that um both would be excellent but at the end of the day I'm
034going to support Dr. Carter um to be superintendent. >> Thank you. the difficulty in going last is a lot of a lot of this has been said. Um but I do I want to just go back and thank the members um of of the screening committee and the time they put into this all everyone who who has been part of these interviews and the community um that that really rose to the challenge of watching um the the interviews over the weekend and providing feedback. I I was very um surprised and happy with how much feedback we got from community members, from students that took the time to meet the candidates um uh staff uh parents, guardians, uh staff at all levels, right? And and I think it was really important for us to hear that.
035Um, you know, I I'm I'm grateful that I was able to um hear from the candidates at both the the screening committee interviews and the interviews this past week. Um, you know, we've read your comments. I've I've read them more than once. A few of them resonated with me and again, I also think um that we have two very strong candidates here and and I struggled with this as well. Um, one of the things that was said about Dr. Parsons's colleagues report she's able to engage in difficult conversations directly while handling them with grace, balancing clarity, with genuine support for people. She's widely viewed as well informed with a a strong command of teaching and learning and brings a depth of experience as a superintendent who has made complex decisions related to curriculum, personnel, and
036budget. [snorts] And that resonated with me. I really thought um you know I saw a lot of of strengths in in um Dr. Parson and this this is a difficult decision. Um that being said, uh there were also comments um regarding Dr. Carter. Um and I think Sarah just spoke to it. Um when we when we went out to the community and we we looked at what was important, the mutual trust and respect, the approach to collaboration, all of those things were of utmost importance. And I like you, Tracy, I'm looking at this through the lens too of um communication, collaborative leadership, budget, negotiations, MSBA experience. And um you know, I I was excited to hear about Dr. Parson's experience with MSBA, but I want I'm going to segue back uh to Dr. Carter here.
037Some of the the uh reflections from the community on Dr. Carter. I like that he wants to build the trust back and improve it. I like his approach to Hollist to look at the strategic plan, listen, learn. Um, what's in the plan that we want to keep? What do we want to change? He wants to acknowledge the work of teachers and build on their strengths. Um, and that resonated with me through both interviews. Um, I think, you know, there were other comments about uh how he has the [clears throat] most relevant experience of working in a district similar to ours and he showed clear passion for working with students, teachers, and the community. His response to the question about communication especially stood out to me. While the other two candidates shared the email platforms they
038used, Dr. Carter focused on the root of communication, showing an understanding of of the tension in our district. He said that when people think there isn't clear communication. What they really mean is that they feel their leadership isn't listening to them. And that is exactly some of the challenges we've had. Based on the empathy and thoughtfulness Dr. Carter showed in his interview, "I have confidence that he would work to understand the perspectives of all stakeholders in the district before making decisions. I also liked his idea about collaborating with local colleges to support their teaching programs and our staffing shortages as well as his specific examples of how he has led his district through outbreaks of hate and anti-semitism. So I think it was the specificity in a number uh and I I know at times
039the responses seem lengthy but they were appreciated because it was the specificity and the [snorts] um experience and examples um in response to our questions that um and a lot of just the the thoughtfulness and emotional intelligence that I thought I saw um is really what won me over. But again, this is a difficult decision. um you know in terms of of my work on on the committee with budget and our work in the past with negotiations there were you know in in um evaluating [clears throat] both candidates I I felt like um that Dr. Carter was stronger in those areas um and and again this comes from um you know having um a lot of feedback. we've all received feedback whether it's through conversations or um the survey uh reaching out to references and
040um speaking with people within the districts. So I'm I'm also in favor of Dr. Carter. >> Okay. Um does anyone have any other comments >> question? So, I'm guessing not really, you know, we're focusing on the positive, so clearly I am outnumbered here. Um, but I have some counterpoints, I guess. So, but I'm just not sure quite how to present that best. Um, I agree that listening to the stake the everyone is involved and you know, combing through everything, one of the common themes people um a agree they want that sense of trust. But I think we are also looking for someone who knows and has it and knows how to lead. And we have such big important things that how much how much growth and how much time do we have to give an
041individual that to get there. Um and with the budget being what it is and it's not getting better moving forward with the MSBA project only in the very early stages. um with all the pieces that are coming forward. Um are we giving enough credit to Dr. Parson who has done all of the pieces that we've looked at? Um and I think I think that needs a little bit more um a little bit more than the social emotional part of bringing the community together. Um so I don't know. >> I struggled with the same Tracy. Um, and where I landed was, and I think um, the emotional intelligence piece, talking about leading from the middle, I I don't think we lever leverage our community's individual strengths enough, and we rely too much on a leader at
042times. There are times where a leader is absolutely needed. A hard decision needs to be made and needs to be made. We deal with it a lot and we hear about it as a committee. However, I do think there's an opportunity to think differently and I do I struggled the same and I was leaning. You asked me which hour in the last weekend and there'd be a different answer. Um I think this is an opportunity for our community to think different. Um and to have a leader that thinks different um and that stretches honestly stretches our community. Now that is a risk. I I I mentioned the budget. And I mentioned MSBA. I think we have a lot of intelligent, skilled people in this town that will come together and help us do it. I
043think where we've struggled is we've not always gotten that support with how we've engaged. So if we engage differently, do we bring the best of all minds together to get something done? And could that be brought together by Dr. Carter or you know it doesn't happen, right? And that's the risk we have to take. That's why this vote is the he mentioned the weight of the chair. This is the weight of the vote. Um the way that this vote is significant because where we go from here is there's nothing that's certain and I all three candidates but if we we isolate to Dr. Parson Dr. Carter they had like there were areas where they have experience or not and I wouldn't say there was one that was a the perfect candidate to everything we were
044looking for. I think there were definitely areas where they were stronger than others. I agree she definitely though had the role of superintendent specific areas that she worked through. Um, but I think Dr. Carter brings that think different uh mantra and ability to think differently for our our community. >> For me, uh, I agree with everything that you said, Tracy, about how we should be considering this and also all the strengths that Dr. Parson brings um, to this position. She has deep experience in Hopington and Planeville um and Milford as as school committee member that um made this incredibly difficult. Um so as I was looking at the two candidates and considering Dr. Carter's experience in Weston and his comments and the community feedback. One of the things I asked myself was um do I
045feel like he could grow starting on day one from assistant superintendent in Weston to superintendent in Hollist and I feel like he has had enough he has had many different experiences as a assistant superintendent. Yes, like mainly focused on curriculum instruction. Um but he has done work um contract negotiations with the union. He has supported the budget process. Um and he's in a a district with a central office and a district size and a K12 district that is a little more similar to Hollist. I feel like the learning gaps um he's acknowledged and could overcome and would have support um but they wouldn't be large learning gaps. I felt very strongly that he brought a lot to this. Um and those areas where there's some ex less experience that he acknowledged um were areas that
046he could easily hit the ground running um and build that experience. >> I also like the leadership he displayed when discussing um their um challenges with changing the high school schedule. having that near and dear to our heart and having, you know, if we if we if we put a mirror up to ourselves, I think we could all say that we could have done that a little bit better. Um, I I liked the way that he approached that, worked through that, you know, you know, help help build consensus among the staff, the students, uh, the the community, and then as as as Frank mentioned is is going back and talking to the people who were on the side that didn't end up going forward and even, you know, still working with with with them. So
047I do think he's shown leadership and that to me is you know while a change in schedule is is obviously impacts curriculum it's more than just a sort of a curriculum type of thing. So I think that it's it's something like that where you take something where we have struggled and and he seems to at least have have you know been able to lead a better process than than certainly we were able to do that. Um, you know, get gets me comfortable with that. Any other comments? No. Um, I guess is anyone ready to vote? So, I guess I'd entertain a motion >> to vote for superintendent >> to vote for >> the motion, you know, you I um recommend we appoint to be, you know, superintendent of of schools starting um >> July 1st,
0482026 subject to contract negotiations. >> So, make >> Well, you basically make the motion. No, I did not make the motion. I was just forming the the uh you know, >> I guess I'd entertain a motion to appoint uh Dr. James Kimo Carter as superintendent of Hollist Schools starting July 1st, 2026. >> Moved by Don. >> Subject to contract negotiations. >> And moved by Don. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Do roll call. We'll do We'll do a roll call vote. Frank, >> yes. >> Tracy, >> no. >> Hillary, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Dan, >> yes. >> Frank, oh, sorry, Joe. >> Yeah. >> Sorry, it's been a long week. Okay. So, with that, it passes 52. >> Is there any interest in, you know, in in revoting
049to to show support unanimously? I mean, this is not I'm not if everyone doesn't want to do it, if people don't want to do it, they absolutely shouldn't. Um, but I've seen a lot of boards do that where there has been, you know, non unonyimity at least initially just to sort of demonstrate that uh that support for the incoming person. Um, >> yeah, I mean, look, he wasn't he wasn't my first choice obviously, but I think he he is a great candidate. So, um, I'll make that motion. I I I move that we unanimously um by acclamation vote for Dr. Kimoka subject to contract negotiations as the next superintendent of Hollist public schools. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I thank you. >> Um they're recessing. >> Okay. >> Should we just do a
050recess? Is that is that okay? >> So we're going to take a brief recess. And we will be back in like five minutes. Do I need to wait till we're back on each? >> Everyone. >> So, hello again, Hollist. Um, Don and I just um gave Kimmo a call and um he is thrilled and he wanted us to express his sincere appreciation to everyone. He's very excited. Um, he said, "I'm ready to go." So, um, I I I think it's um exciting and anyway, thank you. Um, >> so do you want to go over the the announcement letter before we just go and I sent you a couple versions? Yes. >> Not sure how this would go, but um >> do we [clears throat] all have them? >> no, I was like >> Yeah, share
051that out. >> Um, >> hold on. Let me just >> I um I kept it incredibly short for me, so it's only three pages. No, it's it's it's announcing. >> No. >> Yeah, but we we >> At what point do you announce it at the end or the beginning? >> Four times. >> No, it's like >> spend more time cutting it down here. >> No, it's short. It's short. >> Half a page. >> Okay. >> Sorry. I'll get it. I'm just can't get all the names in. It >> really Okay, I think I gave it to everyone. >> Yep. >> Incredibly exciting. >> I I got approval to actually put that in in the movie. >> Yes. >> Thank you for your attention. >> I did not do that. Oh boy. I heard graduation this
052year is going to be the Kennedy Center. >> Stop. Is it joining the HPS? I don't know what that stands for, but it sounds weird. >> Where do you see that from? Dr. will be joining the HPS from West. >> Yeah, we we can spell it out. >> We'll be joining. >> Oh. Oh, >> joining house. >> Yeah. >> Don't we have to for ADA purposes? >> Oh, good. >> I spelled it out above there. >> All of them need to be all of them. >> You can't. >> Oh, where? >> I thought it was all the way to >> really. So, there's no more abbreviations for anything. coming up. That's the way I took it. But I was I thought you were talking about the word though. >> Okay. >> That's what I think.
053>> Yeah, that's right. But I agree though on the ADA. >> It's a good point. >> Do you want it to spell out? >> Yeah, let's spell it out. >> Yeah. >> And HSC, if we're going with that, HSC is at the bottom as well. >> I tried to keep it down, but you know, you guys just made up. I >> mean, Do we have to say please join us in unofficially welcoming? I get it's not official. >> I I thought that was something we could should discuss because it isn't like a done deal. I didn't want official >> warm welcome. Can we say warm welcoming or >> It's fine. I just wanted to make sure you know. Okay. >> Yeah. Awesome. Most annoying thing doing all these was that uh Word will not allow
054quotation marks in to be saved in in in the name of a uh of a document. >> Yeah. Yeah. You never knew that? No, I did. I just It was just annoying. [snorts] >> Is it EDM for his masters or >> So that's actually a masters in education. ED. >> Yeah. No, but ED D. Isn't there a period or no? >> Hillary. Yeah. >> I don't know. >> Isn't there >> I think I went off of the ed was looking at the res. >> I don't know. Tracy. I don't know. I thought it was an ed. Yeah. But then Harvard does something weird when they do EDM. Yeah. >> It does have EDM. >> Yeah. >> Yes. That's where that's what I was >> Okay. Apparently, I didn't use the resume. I thought it was
055>> Yeah. I don't. >> And is it a b a ba a [laughter] >> right? I don't know. >> I think it's fine either. >> Unless it's Harvard. >> Hey, Hillary says okay. >> Why? >> I I have the grammar please. >> Oh, it's an ed. >> Oh, >> wait. Oh, no. No. ED. D. Sorry. >> Yeah, but we both did it at the same time. So, [snorts] [laughter] >> just only one person. >> Too many cooks in the >> taking I'm taking the hands off. >> Okay. >> And what about >> I'm ba you got to do >> spell it. >> Bachelor of rights. >> Oh, no. Bachelor. >> No, not abbreviated the others. >> Okay. >> But do we put periods in? >> I I think so, but we should look it up.
056I think once the periods are decided or we're in a good spot. >> I don't think there's supposed to be a space between the two D's. >> No, I don't think so either. But >> doctor of education. >> Oh, >> BA is the modern version and B do A dot is also widely expressed. is is what >> is widely accepted. >> Okay. >> I still do the hard comma before and so I'm not the one to >> and double spacing between periods and >> like you learned on a typewriter. >> I I get a lot of flack for it. >> I would give you that. >> Okay. >> I also still type on the typewriter. >> Anything else? >> I think this looks good. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Uh motion to approve
057the communication to announce uh Dr. Kimo Carter's um appointment >> subject to contract with >> subject to contract. Well, the >> the communication. >> Okay. Second by all in favor that passes. Um, anything else we need to do here today? Okay. Uh, with that, I will entertain a motion. Gosh, where's my agenda? Entertain a motion to um enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body non-union incoming 2026 superintendent >> second we'll do a roll from which we will not return right >> okay Um, roll call. We'll do Frank. >> Yep. >> Tracy, >> yeah. >> Hillary, >> yes. >> Don, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Dale, >> yes.
058>> And Joe, >> sorry. >> Okay. Um, so with that, good night, Hollist. And again, thank you for all your support through this um process and good night.