WINNEMUCCA — The Humboldt County School District Board of Trustees has opted to skip the hiring process and appoint Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dave Jensen to the district’s top job.

The decision followed discussion during the board’s meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 14).  Dr. Jensen will replace outgoing superintendent Mike Bumgartner, who intends to retire when his contract expires in June.

Bumgartner recommended Jensen for the job during a presentation made to the board but stressed he was only offering his personal opinion.  He made the point if they liked the direction the district was heading in – it only made sense for the board to promote from within.

Bumgartner’s presentation acknowledged Jensen’s strengths and weaknesses as a potential superintendent.

Dr. Jensen’s chief strength was his background in school funding issues with special reference to the Nevada PLAN, the complicated formula used to determine individual school funding. He has been the district’s chief financial officer for a number of years.  Considering the district's $28 million budget, this was no small matter.

Also important were Jensen's ties to the community, which included the fact his children attend Humboldt County schools.  Additionally, Jensen has been with the district for 14 years, so he has established working relationships.

There was one hole in Jensen’s resume and that’s the fact he never worked in the classroom or as a site principal.   Jensen came to the district as a school psychologist.  Bumgartner suggested it would be prudent to have an assistant superintendent with a background that included time in the classroom or as a site administrator.

As Board Member Ann Miller pointed out, the administration is actually a team, which includes Kelly Novi as curriculum director,  each with different strengths and backgrounds.

Humboldt County Education Association president Mary Keith later added Dr. Jensen’s lack of background as a teacher or site principal could be overlooked if he was a cooperative listener to what teachers and principals had to say.  Additionally, she said Dr. Jensen had always been professional and had a good working relationship with staff.

The board members said they had received phone calls and emails concerning the superintendent’s position and people appeared to feel comfortable with Jensen as superintendent.

As was noted more than once, to bring someone in from the outside would be to gamble and hope the candidate hadn’t misrepresented themselves.  Additionally, hiring a firm to bring in candidates could cost upwards of $20,000, and that candidate would have no ties to the community and/or perhaps no understanding of rural Nevada issues.

The board intends to put the appointment of Dr. Jensen on the next School Board agenda.