Nearly two months after it fired its superintendent, the Orange Unified School Board appointed its second acting superintendent and agreed to hire a consultant to find a more permanent leader.
Board members Thursday night, March 2, unanimously appointed Ernest Gonzalez, who serves as assistant superintendent in charge of human resources, to lead the Orange Unified School District.
Gonzalez assumes the role last held by Edward Velasquez, a former Southern California superintendent who was retired and living in Idaho but was flown in by the district on Jan. 9, four days after a divided board fired then-Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen without any public explanation.
The unexpected firing led to an outcry from teachers and some parents, who are looking at recalling those who fired Hansen, as well as support from other parents who said change was needed at the district.
Velasquez left the district about six weeks after his hiring, at least two weeks shy of the end of his contract, which paid him $1,350 a day plus airline travel, car rental and hotel expenses.
During his tenure, Velasquez flew to Spokane every week, usually on Fridays. Airline expenses he submitted to the district totaled $3,168.74, according to documents provided by the district.
On Thursday, in addition to appointing Gonzalez, the board also agreed to look for a firm that will search for a new superintendent. Meanwhile, Gonzalez will assume that post.
“We believe the appointment of Assistant Superintendent Ernie Gonzalez will bring some much-needed stability to the district, for our students, employees and families,” Trustee Kris Erickson said.
The district’s 41 schools serve approximately 26,000 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the cities of Orange, Villa Park, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and unincorporated Orange County.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is April 13, but board members plan to meet on April 3 to interview potential search firms.
