Palo Alto Schools Superintendent Resigns Amid Public Scrutiny

PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto Unified School District Superintendent Glenn "Max" McGee will resign on Friday, according to school district Board President Terry Godfrey. Although news reports indicate McGee has been under public scrutiny in recent months over budget decisions and the district's handling of sexual assault investigations at Palo Alto High School — Paly — Godfrey did not elaborate on the reasons for McGee's resignation, other than to say it was a personal decision and his resignation was accepted during a closed session.

"We thank Dr. McGee for his years of hard work and for his many contributions to our district," Godfrey said. "His optimism, vision and vibrancy along with the innovative programs and practices he brought to our district will be a lasting legacy."

In a statement about his departure, McGee said he appreciated "the opportunity to lead and serve this phenomenal school district."

"Blessed with a supportive community, a dedicated Board of Education, an extraordinarily capable and caring staff, and above all a student body that exemplifies excellence in character and achievement, I leave Palo Alto knowing that the district will continue to thrive, and I stand ready to provide whatever support is needed during the transition," McGee said.

The announcement comes as the board has been discussing a re-evaluation of McGee's performance, according to an article by The Mercury News detailing the scrutiny McGee has been under.

From The Mercury News report:

"In May, the board announced it would continue its performance reviews of McGee with help from the San Francisco law firm of Cozen O’Connor, which was tasked with gathering information on how sexual assault complaints at Palo Alto High were handled by school officials.

"Some parents have called on McGee to resign because of his handling of those complaints and failure to alert parents to potential safety threats related to the assaults. They say McGee should have notified the school community last October that a then-14-year-old student reported a sexual assault on the campus."

Wednesday night, the board reportedly moved to appoint Karen Hendricks to the role of interim superintendent. Hendricks, who previously worked for Carmel Unified School District and Santa Cruz City Schools, was hired by PAUSD in May as the assistant superintendent of human resources.

"Pleasant and collaborative, she exhibits depth of knowledge and warm demeanor," McGee said in May upon her hiring. "Karen is systems thinker who has earned a reputation for both her caring and her courage. She is the perfect fit for PAUSD."

With McGee's exit, Godfrey says the district is working on an interim leadership plan and is starting a search for its next superintendent. She expects the process to search for a new superintendent to take at least the rest of the school year, something she says is a common practice.

"That's what we were planning to do anyways," she said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo via Palo Alto Unified School District