Superintendent's Departure Leaves Newark Schools Looking to Hire for Three Key Jobs

Thursday's news that schools Superintendent Kevin Harrigan is leaving means is searching for candidates to fill three key positions.

According to news reports, Harrigan is leaving to take a superintendent position in Sonoma County. The district is also hiring a new principal for Newark Junior High School and a business administrator.

Harrigan did not return calls from Newark Patch on Thursday afternoon, but he was quoted in a report posted on InsideBayArea.com Thursday night as saying he will become superintendent of Oak Grove Union Elementary School District in Santa Rosa.

He was quoted as saying he's always intended to relocate to that area, where he will be in charge of a K-8 district.

 The website for the Oak Grove Union Elementary School District shows school board members held a special meeting on Tuesday that covered several items, including filling the superintendent position.

 According to the minutes from the board members’ closed session:

“The board members visited the site of the top candidate for the superintendent position. As a result of that visit they have instructed RJ Gatti Associates to enter into contract negotiations with the candidate.”

 You may read the minutes from Tuesday night’s meeting here.

 According to the district’s website, Harrigan has been serving Newark schools since 2003. In an online message to the community, Harrigan said he has worked with Newark Memorial staff and faculty to transform the campus into a “flourishing professional learning community.”

 “My leadership in this regard set the stage for success for all learners. Newark Memorial is now striving to work from shared norms, interacting and aligning with elementary and junior high levels,” Harrigan said in an online message.

 Also on Tuesday night, the Dublin Unified School District appointed Catherine Ward-Mikes to become the new principal at Dougherty Elementary. Ward-Mikes is currently the principal at Newark Junior High School.

 "I feel very blessed to be joining the community," said Ward-Mikes during 

 NUSD is still looking for a chief business official after Steven Shields announced in February that he’s resigning.