New NMUSD superintendent to be announced soon

The end is near in the search for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District superintendent.

A top candidate has been selected, according to district spokeswoman Laura Boss, but a name will not be released until the decision is final.

The candidate is being visited this week, and Boss said there could be more information by Friday.

School board members interviewed six people from a pool of about 55 applicants from around the country, she said.

The six were chosen after their qualifications and backgrounds were checked.

Three of those candidates, all from California, were forwarded to the community selection committee that was made up of a cross-section of the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa population.

She said about 26 community members participated in meetings to discuss the top three candidates.

“The board heard what the community is looking for,” Boss said. “That definitely came through in the candidates.”

She said some of what residents had indicated they wanted was someone who was bilingual, had experience with a diverse student body and worked with program-improvement schools as well as higher academics.

The board is expected to announce its selection for the position at its June 26 meeting.

For more details, visit web.nmusd.us/board.

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