Dr. Dave Marken Set To Serve As DUSD Superintendent For 2 Years

DUBLIN, CA — The Dublin Unified School District may get a permanent superintendent—at least for the next two years. Dr. Dave Marken, who is currently serving as the district's interim superintendent, has offered to come out of retirement for two years, it was announced during Wednesday evening's DUSD Facilities Workshop. Marken’s hiring would be conditional on contract negotiation and public input at the next DUSD Board of Trustees meeting scheduled Tuesday. Any action taken on that contract would occur during the meeting's open session, according to DUSD Board of Trustees president Amy Miller.

Marken took over as DUSD interim superintendent April 15 following the resignation of Dr. Leslie Boozer, whose last day as district superintendent was March 26. Before retiring, Marken had worked in the district for 13 years, serving as an assistant principal and principal at Dublin High School; a senior director of secondary education and student services; and then as assistant superintendent of educational services and human resources. Marken then accepted the role of superintendent of schools at Newark Unified, where he retired after serving in that position for five years.

During his time as interim superintendent for the DUSD, he has been in the district Monday through Thursday—a schedule that was set due to laws that prescribe the number of hours retired public education employees can work before compromising their pensions, according to a statement in April from Miller announcing Marken's interim superintendent appointment.

In closed session before Wednesday night's workshop, the board unanimously agreed that Marken will be appointed as superintendent conditional on contract negotiation, Miller said in a statement. Appointing him would allow the board to resume the search process in 2020 for a superintendent "with the goal of identifying and securing our next long-term leader by approximately the spring of 2021," Miller stated. "This would also give us support as we move into the next school year, provides a healthy window of opportunity for a comprehensive search, and ensures that a full board—five elected and seated trustees—will hire the next leader."

The open session of Tuesday's DUSD Board of Trustee's meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., 7471 Larkdale Avenue, in the district board room.