School Board Approves $260K Contract for New Superintendent

The West Contra Costa Unified School District approved the hiring of a permanent replacement for a retiring superintendent on Wednesday, district officials said.

The district's five-member Board of Education approved a contract to hire Matthew Duffy to fill Bruce Harter's post after he retires at the end of the month.

Harter had served as a superintendent for 10 years at the district, which has schools in Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole and Hercules as well as unincorporated communities in Contra Costa County.

Duffy will officially take Harter's position at the 29,000-student school district as of July 6. He will be paid $260,000 per year, according to the district.

"I am humbled and proud to have the responsibility of serving the students and families of the (district)," Duffy said in a statement.

Duffy was selected in a consensus vote by the district's board after seven candidates were interviewed for the job, narrowed down from 22 applicants.

For the past three years, Duffy served as the assistant superintendent for educational services in Milpitas. Prior to that, he held a leadership role at New Leaders for New Schools, a nonprofit organization that
develops and trains school administrators.

He was also an administrator for nine years in the Oakland Unified School District and a teacher and assistant principal in New York City.

"(Duffy) understands the importance of serving the variety of needs in our communities and he has proven success helping students excel," Randy Enos, president of the district's board, said in a statement.

--Bay City News