BREAKING STORY YOU READ FIRST ON BIG VALLEY NEWS

MADERA - Madera Unified Superintendent Gustavo Balderas has been offered a position at Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach, California. In three closed season meetings last month the board of trustees of OVSD discussed the open position for superintendent of their district.  In the October 27th meeting an offer was made to Balderas which he is expected to accept at their next regular board meeting on November 6, 2012.

The Madera Unified Board of Education hired Balderas as the district's current superintendent in April of 2011 and he assumed his duties effective July 1, 2011. Before coming to MUSD Balderas served as the assistant superintendent of support services in the Hillsboro School District in Hillsboro, Ore.

Currently in his 22nd year in education, Balderas has acquired a wide variety of experience at all levels of K-12 public education. He has been a secondary teacher, counselor, assistant principal, elementary principal, an area director and district-level administrator.

On his hiring at Madera Unified Balderas said, "This is a tremendous opportunity for my family and me. It's really a perfect fit, Madera Unified is doing great work right now, and I'm looking forward to lending my skills and abilities to the district."

According to the timeline for hiring a new superintendent posted by the Ocean View School District website, around October 29th OVSD was to visit the community of their finalist and make an offer for the position. We have made several phone calls to Balderas for comment but as of press time he has not returned any of them. Four hours after we published our story Balderas texted BVN with this statement, "Lots of rumors. I am a finalist in Orange County. Will find out more information next week."

He is expected to make an announcement next week.

As for who will helm the Madera Unified School District until a new superintendent can be hired, it's between Tony Monreal and Debbie Wood. Wood is currently the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services but her contract was not renewed last year and is expected to expire at the end of the school year. Monreal was recently hired as the deputy superintendent, however there are signs that district employees are not likely to support him as a choice for Intrerim Superintendent.

Ultimately the decision will be made by the MUSD Board of Trustees who are expected to meet as soon as Balderas makes the official announcement next week.