Certificated Personnel – Recruitment and Selection of Site Administrators

San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Administrative Regulation 4111.1

Certificated Personnel – Recruitment and Selection of Site Administrators
 

This Administrative Regulation applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.

 The District is committed to a fair, open, and transparent recruitment and selection process which ensures that individuals are selected based on demonstrated knowledge, skills, and competence and not on any bias, personal preference, or unlawful discrimination. When a vacancy occurs for an administrative position at a school site, the District will observe the following selection process consistent with the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement between the District and United Administrators of San Francisco (“UA Agreement”).

1. Posting Period.
    
   1. Human Resources shall ensure the vacancy is posted for a minimum of ten (10) days unless the needs of the District require a shorter posting period.
       
   2. The Superintendent retains the discretion to shorten the posting period based on the needs of the District and consistent with the applicable provisions of the UA Agreement.
       
2. Hiring Manager. The Assistant Superintendent responsible for supervision of the school shall oversee and manage the hiring of site administrators for their assigned schools. The Assistant Superintendent may designate another administrator to act as the Hiring Manager.
    
3. Screening Applications. Together with Human Resources, the Hiring Manager will screen applications to ensure that any applicant who is forwarded as a candidate for interview meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is eligible for employment in the District. The District reserves the right to conduct initial reference checks prior to inviting an applicant to interview. An “administrative application” shall consist of a completed SearchSoft application.
    
   1. Internal Applicants. Upon submission of the administrative application, internal applicants shall be eligible for consideration by the Site Interview Committee.

      For purposes of this Regulation, an internal applicant is defined as an employee who:

      1. Either currently holds a position as a site administrator within the District, or has held such a position within the last five (5) years; and
      2. Has received recent positive recommendations from their immediate supervisor.

1. 2. External Applicants. Any applicant who does not meet the criteria set forth in section 3(a) above or section 3(c) below is considered to be “external” for purposes of this regulation.

      External applicants shall complete an administrative application as well as the following preliminary screening activities in order to be eligible for consideration by the Site Interview Committee:
       

      1. Complete short answer responses; and
      2. Participate in an in-person screening interview with Human Resources and the Hiring Manager.

The Superintendent or their designee reserves the right to alter or eliminate preliminary screening activities for school site administrative positions when circumstances require the position to be filled on an expedited basis, such as when a vacancy occurs after June 1.
 

3. Employees Serving in Interim Positions. An employee who is currently serving as interim administrator, and who has applied to be appointed to same the position for the subsequent school year, shall be treated as an internal applicant for purposes of this Regulation. Interim ​administrators who wish to be considered for any other administrative positions within the District must complete the same preliminary screening activities as an external applicant unless the interim administrator successfully completed the activity in the previous school year. 

3.  
4. Candidate Slate. The Hiring Manager and Human Resources shall be responsible for identifying a slate of at least 3 and no more than 6 qualified applicants for consideration by the Site Interview Committee. Due consideration will be given to qualified internal candidates.
    
5. Composition of Site Interview Committee. The Hiring Manager will solicit at least seven (7), but no more than fourteen (14), volunteers from the school community to serve as representatives on the Site Interview Committee. The intent of this provision is to ensure to the greatest extent possible that the site selects its representatives.
    
   1. Participants are expected to represent their stakeholder group. In the event that the stakeholder group fails to identify its representative within a reasonable period of time, the Hiring Manager shall appoint a representative for the group.
       
   2. The Site Interview Committee shall consist of representatives of the following groups:
   • 3 to 5 teachers;
   • 2 parents;
   • 2 non-classroom staff and/or paraeducators; and
   • 2 students for administrative vacancies in high school

The Superintendent retains discretion to reduce the size and alter the composition of the Site Interview Committee based on the unique needs of the school community and the educational program.

6. Interview Process.
    
   1. The Hiring Manager will schedule and facilitate the interview process.
       
   2. Interviews will last no longer than one hour for each candidate.
       
   3. Each candidate will be asked at least eight (8) questions. At least two questions will be provided by the District.
       
   4. The Site Interview Committee may submit a list of proposed questions that the Committee would like to ask each candidate. Proposed questions must be submitted to the Hiring Manager for review and revision at least three (3) business days in advance of the interview date. The Hiring Manager will work with Human Resources to finalize the interview questions.
       
   5. The Site Interview Committee will provide feedback to the Hiring Manger on each candidates’ strengths and weaknesses and recommend at least two (2) finalists for the Superintendent’s further consideration.
       
7. Final Interview. Based on a review of the Site Interview Committee’s input, the final interview, and the candidate’s fit for the school, the Superintendent for their designee will select the administrator for the school.

   All offers of employment are contingent on the applicant’s successful completion of a background and reference check and approval or ratification by the Board of Education.
    

8. Superintendent’s Discretion to Make Appointments. In exceptional and rare circumstances, it is necessary for the Superintendent to fill a vacancy by appointment and without adhering to the selection process described above. For example, when a vacancy occurs during the summer months or near the beginning of school, it may be necessary to appoint an interim administrator without the participation of a Site Interview Committee. Nothing in this Administrative Regulation shall be construed to limit the Superintendent’s discretion to make interim appointments to meet the needs of the school and the District.

 

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

200-262.4   Prohibition of discrimination

41530-41533   Professional Development Block Grant

44066   Limitations on certification requirement

44259   Teaching credential; exception; designated subjects; minimum requirements

44735   Teaching as a Priority block grant

44740-44741   Personnel management assistance teams

44750   Teacher recruitment resource center

44830-44831   Employment of certificated persons

44858   Age or marital status in certificated positions

44859   Prohibition against certain rules and regulations re: residency

45103-45139   Employment (classified employees)

49406   Examination for tuberculosis

GOVERNMENT CODE

815.2   Liability of public entities and public employees

12900-12996   Fair Employment and Housing Act, including:

12940-12956   Discrimination prohibited; unlawful practices

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 8

1324a Unlawful employment of aliens

1324b Unfair immigration related practices

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42

2000d-2000d-7 Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964

2000e-2000e-17 Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended

2000h-2-2000h-6 Title IX, 1972 Education Act Amendments

12101-12213   Americans with Disabilities Act

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28

35.101-35.190   Americans with Disabilities Act

COURT DECISIONS

C.A. v William S. Hart Union High School District et al., (2012) 138 Cal.Rptr.3d 1

 

Management Resources:

WEB SITES

California Department of Fair Employment and Housing: http://www.dfeh.ca.gov

Education Job Opportunities Information Network: http://www.edjoin.org

Teach USA: http://www.calteach.org

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov

 

 

Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.