NEWARK, Calif. — Newark Unified School District is set to have another change of leadership less than a year after appointing a new superintendent.
After the closed session of a special meeting on March 27, board President Aiden Hill announced that the district’s Board of Education decided to unanimously accept Superintendent Penelope DeLeon’s notice of retirement, effective April 29. They also directed Deputy Superintendent Tracey Vackar to investigate workplace misconduct.
Hill said the board wished DeLeon, who has been out on medical leave, the “best of health in her retirement.”
“The Board of Education met tonight to ensure that the district has dedicated leadership in place during this time of transition,” Hill said. “The Board of Education is committed to the mission of providing the 4,828 students, who everyday walk through our doors, a quality education from our dedicated teaching professionals.”
DeLeon was hired in May 2023 on a three-year contract for an annual salary of $270,000 to address the district’s issues related to declining student enrollment, a teacher shortage and a growing structural deficit.
However, some parents and members of the community took issue with DeLeon’s approach to the job, including allegations of a hostile work environment.
One member of the public, Jeff Anderson, suggested hiring the next superintendent from within the district or ensuring the new hire is someone who already knows the district well.
“To bring someone new into this district that has no experience and no history and no previous relationships, under the current state that we’re in, would be a mistake,” Anderson said.
Sonia Waraich can be reached at 510-952-7455.
