By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

 After more than six hours in executive session, the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board unanimously voted late Tuesday night to enter into contract negotiations with Trevor McDonald for the position of interim superintendent.

The decision followed a day of candidate interviews and deliberation during a special July 2 meeting. The board also authorized Board President Michael Todd to serve as the district’s liaison with legal counsel in developing McDonald’s employment contract.

While the board has not yet finalized an agreement, the vote to begin contract negotiations effectively confirms McDonald as the district’s selection. Unless negotiations fall through, McDonald is expected to serve as interim superintendent through June 30, 2026, or until a permanent superintendent is hired.

McDonald most recently served as Chief Business Officer at Vista del Mar School District in Gaviota, California. He previously led Lompoc Unified School District as superintendent from 2013 to 2022. He holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and brings more than a decade of senior-level district leadership experience to the role.

The interim superintendent search began last month after the board placed Superintendent Cort Monroe on administrative leave. With support from the Arizona School Administrators (ASA) organization, the board launched an accelerated four-week process to identify temporary leadership.

During a prior special meeting, ASA consultant Dr. Mark Joraanstad emphasized the need for swift action.

“If we’re going to do an interim, we need to get moving,” Joraanstad said.

The board received applications through June 26 and conducted interviews on July 2 before convening in a closed-door session that lasted approximately six and a half hours.

Board members had previously discussed whether the interim hire should be eligible to apply for the permanent position.

“I think it would be unfortunate if we hired an interim and we all agreed that person was a great fit but didn’t allow them to apply for the permanent position,” board member Kellie Zimmerman said during the earlier meeting.

Board member Kris Kenyon raised concerns about the effectiveness of temporary hires, noting, “I’ve seen situations where short-term hires become disconnected because they know their role is temporary.”

Joraanstad said multiple retired superintendents had expressed interest in interim roles lasting six to nine months.

According to the job posting, the board sought “an experienced leader with lofty standards, personal integrity, and good moral character.” Minimum qualifications included a background in teaching, successful experience as a superintendent, and an Arizona superintendent certificate or eligibility to obtain one. The salary range for the interim role is listed between $160,000 and $185,000, depending on experience and contract terms.

Contract negotiations with McDonald are expected to begin immediately. For updates, visit liberty25.org.