New Superintendent Appointed to the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, Touted as Leader in Budget Issues, Labor Negotiations

The governing board of the last night announced Robert Haley will take over Barbara Vrankovich’s post as superintendent of schools. Vrankovich will be finished June 30. She . 

Haley, who was appointed as interim superintendent, comes to Rohnert Park from St. Helena Unified School District, where he’s served both as superintendent and assistant superintendent since 2004. Prior to that, Haley was superintendent at Sebastopol Union School District.

“Robert was the one person who showed the most interest in the position,” said board president Ed Gilardi. “Three people were invited to interview, but he was the lead candidate.”

Gilardi wouldn’t confirm that Haley was only person actually interviewed by the board, but he did say was the one candidate who stepped up to the tough job at hand. The future of the district — facing severe declining enrollment numbers, a $4.9 million budget deficit for the next fiscal year and possibly  — is uncertain. In addition, the Cotati-Rohenrt Park Educator’s Association is currently in mediation with an outside negotiator because the union hasn't been able to come to an agreement with the district on labor concessions. , after union negotiators clashed with the district.

According to Stacie McGwier, president of the Rohnert Park Cotati Educator's Association, the union recently offered about $10,000 in givebacks per teacher, per year. 

That's made up of a seven day school year reduction — five class days and two teacher work days, a 2.5 percent pay cut and an offer to pay 15 percent of total medical benefits. Currently teachers have 100 percent of their medical covered, but some teachers pay 10 percent of dental and vision.

The district, on the other hand, wants teachers to pay 25 percent of benefits, to take a five percent pay cut and to take six days off the school year instead of seven, McGwier said.

Gilardi said the search to find Haley cost the district nothing. He is salaried at $140,000 a year — $25,000 less than Vrankovich. Whether or not Haley will have an opportunity to stay is unclear. The board will continue searching for a permanent superintendent throughout the year, Gilardi said. However, the board could invite Haley to stay after his one-year contract ends. It will depend on Haley’s progress in the district and whether or not he wants to stay.

“Half way through the next school year, the board will decide what steps are next,” Gilardi said. “Robert has an impressive resume — he’s dealt with budget issues, he has experience with negotiating and he is very innovative with programs.”

“He knew this district would be a challenge when he came forward,” Gilardi added.

Haley announced his departure from the St. Helena Unified School District — which has a total of about 1, 340 students district-wide, 91 teachers and four principals — on Dec. 17, according to the St. Helena Star, the town’s local newspaper.

Haley left St. Helena despite strong support of the St. Helena Teacher’s Association, 91 percent of which strongly supported him, according to the Star.

“In August, 91 percent of the members of SHTA signed a letter supporting Haley and urging the board to keep him through the end of his contract,” the Star reported. “Teachers have enjoyed his leadership for the past seven years and wish him well in his future employment,” said Dan Boyett, president of the St. Helena school board, to the Star, in an article published Jan. 27. “My dealings with Dr. Haley have always been positive. We didn’t always get the results we’d have liked, but that’s part of the negotiation process.”

“[Haley] had an open-door policy to listen to concerns teachers had. He was a very teacher-friendly superintendent,” the Star wrote in the article.

Haley didn’t plan on leaving St. Helena when he joined the district in 2004.

“I came to St. Helena Unified in August of 2004 with the intention of completing my career here, and in so doing, conclude it with retirement,” the Star wrote. “I have greatly enjoyed my tenure here, I am proud of what has been accomplished, and therefore I am disappointed that my intention will not come to fruition.”

“I think this is a great opportunity,” Haley said last night. “I see this as a budding community and I’m excited to be here with my family.”

Haley is married with four kids (ages 10, 11, 14 and 16), he said.

Haley said two reasons why he came to Rohnert Park is because it’s a place designed for families and because the teachers are so passionate about their jobs.

“Where there’s passion, there’s room for growth,” he said.