Board approves piggyback option for the purchase of school furnishings, office furnishings, and accessories

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees continued the process to find its next superintendent at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. Treasurer Tracy Ellis-Weit was standing president during the meeting as Terri Switzer was not in attendance.

Both the Minutes from the Oct. 15 meeting and the Consent Agenda for the evening’s meeting passed unanimously.

The Selection of Superintendent Search Firm was brought back to the board this week. During the Oct. 15 meeting, the board heard from both Leadership Associates and The SLO County Office of Education in a bid to lead the search for current Superintendent Tom Butler’s replacement at the end of the 2024-25 school year. At the meeting, the trustee board requested that the item be brought back to this meeting so each trustee could look into both firms in more detail before making a final decision. You can find the story here: atascaderonews.com/news/education/school-board-starts-process-in-search-of-new-superintendent.

“I talked to school board members in our adjacent districts. I talked to two board members in Paso who used Leadership Associates. I talked to the new superintendent there, who had gone through the process of applying and interviewing. I talked to two trustees in Templeton Unified School District who used the county last year for their superintendent search. And then I talked to a trustee at Lucia Mar, who used Leadership Associates,” said Trustee Vy Pierce. “My conclusion is that I think we would be best served with either one of them. The trustees said great things about both agencies.”

Pierce went on to say that if AUSD had the $25,000 to pay for Leadership Associates’ services, she thought it would prove to be a better value. Trustee Matt Pennon also agreed that he had come to the same conclusion.

“I know that we were very happy working with the county on this project. They were very professional, and as I said, they led us to Tom [Butler],” stated trustee Corinne Kuhnle. “I am also concerned because our state is in deficit spending, and I’m concerned about the next year or two and what we’re going to be looking at budget-wise, and so for the money and the professionalism that we did receive, I’m still leaning towards the county.” 

Trustee Rebekah Koznek stated that she was also leaning towards using the SLO County Office of Education, which would cost AUSD closer to $6,000, but that neither would be a bad choice in the end. Ellis-Weit also said that shelooked into the benefits of using a third-party firm like Leadership Associates. 

Pennon made a motion at the end of the discussion to approve a contract between AUSD and Leadership Associates. The motion passed with a 5-1 vote, with Kuhnle voting no.

Director of Support Services Brant Lloyd also addressed the board on a piggyback option for AUSD school furnishings.

“My item tonight is Resolution #07-24-25 Utilization of the Arvin Union School District Piggyback Option for the Purchase of School Furnishings, Office Furnishings, and Accessories,” stated Lloyd. “Public contract code permits school districts to purchase supplies, materials, equipment, etc. under a contract entered into by another awarding school district.”

Lloyd also said that AUSD has used Arvin Union School District Piggyback in the past and wishes to renew the option and recommended that the board trustees approve the resolution.

The motion passed unanimously.

The next regularly scheduled AUSD Board of Trustees meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.