Posted by DC McGlynn, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Apr 19, 2012 at 9:36 am

Is this a coincidence or what is it about Mountain View schools and this Superintendent ? How many more of his friends will he hire ?

Mt. View residents seem to still have a thing or 2 to say

Web Link

Maybe Sharon is a great leader and would be great for Encinal .. but it all seems a little cozy.

PS. Why is it we are bled to the bone with Fundraising with MPAEF et al and we have some many new roles for staff, like Allison L.

Posted by Rene, a resident of the Menlo Park: Menlo Oaks neighborhood, on Apr 19, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Well, at least he hasn't tried hiring his girlfriend away from Mountain View--the one that got him fired from there.

Posted by Tricia B, a resident of the Menlo Park: The Willows neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2012 at 5:24 pm

@DC McGlynn. Allison Liner will be replacing retiring Assistant Superintendent, Jo Mitchell. There is not a new position being created for her. The position is just being re-named.

Hope that helps.

Posted by Questioning, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2012 at 10:13 am

Tricia-You are correct, the position Allison Liner is moving into is not new, just rebranded---but, Ghysels and the Board did create 2 new "Learning Leader" positions at a time when the district is deficit spending.

Another curious decision was to contract with the same recruiting firm that found Ghysels to "find" the new principals and then hiring someone who worked for Ghysels in Mountain View.

Posted by Professor, a resident of the Menlo Park: South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2012 at 6:23 pm

You nailed it Questioning. The hiring firms and candidates are one in the same and are responsible for inflating the positions and the salaries. It's all about corrupted networks of influence. The references are padded and they are connected to the ones hiring. Hardly an objective and fair system, but definitely a costly one. MPCSD would do better to hire up from within and from where educators with true roots to the community could grow professionally. What you have here is a superintendent that does not want to take chances on new talent, but only rob from within other districts at presumably at high cost to both districts. These candidates are NOT coming to MPCSD for less pay! This is more a move by Ghysels to form the corporation he never had where costs are irrelevant and the students come last. Hence, he wants to emulate corporations like Google, which only hires the top talent for top dollars. MPCSD will become nothing more that a stepping stone for principals and administrators to use for their next position up and out in other districts. Mark my words.

Posted by downtown, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Jun 10, 2012 at 10:08 am

I enjoyed seeing Maurice Ghysels and a large number of MPCSD staff at Mistrals ($$$) last week. Any more questions?

Posted by Jim, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Jun 22, 2012 at 7:41 am

Better audit the district accounts. This doesn't look good. And perception is everything (to include the Rolex).