Coast Unified isn't looking for a superintendent, yet 

After splitting with its former superintendent, Coast Unified School District is confident that its current leadership can carry it through the end of the 2018-19 academic school year.

Samuel Shalhoub, school board president, told New Times via email that at its March 14 meeting the board voted on its intent to not initiate a statewide or nationwide search for a superintendent.

"This is a sign of stability, and if our personnel had indicated the need for a search, the board would have deeply and thoroughly considered that option," he said.

The district will continue with its current leadership: interim Superintendent Scott Smith—he's a part-time superintendent for both Cayucos Elementary School District and Coast Unified—and Kyle Martin as the interim assistant superintendent, who is also principal of Santa Lucia Middle School.

Shalhoub said the decision was made as a result of direct input from faculty and staff regarding the performance of Smith and Martin.

Their performance was evaluated on a scale of poor, satisfactory, and excellent, as well as faculty and staff's observation of and interaction with Smith and Martin, actions taken on topics brought to administration's attention, and overall communication between administration and faculty/staff.

Coast Unified has to inform Cayucos Elementary of its intention to remain in the shared services agreement—continuing to use Smith's service—by May 1.

The positions began January 2019 and marked the first time the district has had both interim superintendent positions. Shalhoub said that the board created the structure as a reflection of direct input from faculty and staff at the beginning of the district's leadership transition. In October, former district Superintendent Victoria Schumacher announced her resignation three months after the teachers union sent a letter to the district expressing its lack of confidence in her leadership.

"It allows for Kyle Martin to bring genuine, on-the-ground information to Scott Smith's attention and to allow Scott Smith to quickly address larger issues and make progress towards serving the needs of our students, faculty, and staff," he said. "Having these two administrators working together has generated a synergetic effect that is propelling the district in a healthy and positive direction, and is also saving the district money."

The district board will set up a listening session in April to check in with faculty and staff, as well as create a platform for the community to provide input on the nature of the leadership's efficiency.