photo credit: Santa Rosa City Schools
The recently departed Daisy Morales, former
superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools.

Santa Rosa's public school district has a new superintendent.

On April 23, the Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Trustees abruptly voted to dismiss Daisy Morales as head of Sonoma County's largest school district.

A shock, but welcome surprise is how Santa Rosa Teacher's Association President Kathryn Howell described the announcement.

"I found out at the same time everyone else did at the board meeting," Howell said.

Morales was hired just 10 months ago as superintendent, but, her position in the district, and relationship with Santa Rosa's teachers quickly became untenable.

In March, 97% of participating teachers in the district expressed no confidence in Morales's leadership.

Last week's board meeting brought an announcement from Santa Rosa City School's Board of Trustees president Roxanne McNally.

"During closed session, the board voted to terminate the superintendent's agreement without cause," McNally announced. "Associate Superintendent Lisa August will be taking on the roles and duties of the superintendent for the time being."

KRCB News spoke with McNally after the vote.

She declined to comment further about the decision to dismiss Morales, citing personnel confidentiality.

But McNally said she is already looking forward towards what Ms. August will bring to the superintendent's role.

"I'm excited for the work that I believe she can do," McNally said. "She's an established presence and established leader in this district."

The district is embarking on a controversial consolidation effort; and Howell said she is relieved, and thankful the board choose to move on from Morales at the helm.

"I think that her leadership was not stabilizing, it was disruptive," Howell said. "Hopefully that will be an easier transition without her, that we can get some straight answers, and make some progress that's better for our students."

Morales isn't the only district leader to depart this week.

School board trustee Stephanie Manieri, who was absent from Wednesday's board meeting, resigned from the board a day later.

In a letter on her Facebook page, Manieri made no mention of Morales, or the dismissal, but noted public harassment and concerns for her personal health as major reasons for resignation.