Letter to the Editor:
We, a collective of members from the Burbank Teachers Association (BTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Burbank Association of School Administrators (BASA), and Burbank Parent Teachers Association (), are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the Burbank Unified School District’s (BUSD) potential expenditure of up to $40,000 on a contract to hire an external firm for a public search for the next Superintendent. We strongly urge the Board of Education to reconsider this unnecessary use of funds, particularly in light of two interconnected factors that highlight the wisdom of promoting from within.
First and foremost, Dr. Oscar Macias is already performing the role with exceptional dedication and effectiveness. Since assuming the position in early summer, Dr. Macias has demonstrated a genuine commitment to leading BUSD toward the excellence it deserves. He commands the respect of staff, students, and the community, embodying ethical leadership and fostering strong local connections that an external candidate could not easily replicate. Remarkably, he has navigated the district’s challenges with minimal support from the administration team, showcasing remarkable grit, tenacity, and courageous leadership. Dr. Macias has not shied away from difficult conversations or conflicts when they serve the greater good of improving our schools. It is his firm approach, often encapsulated in his statement, “You are either part of the solution moving forward, or part of the problem”—that has led to necessary changes, including placing key members of the leadership team on administrative leave. Promoting Dr. Macias would build on this proven foundation rather than risking disruption with an unknown outsider.
Compounding this is the district’s precarious financial situation, which makes such spending particularly ill-advised. We anticipate that the upcoming first interim budget report will reveal the need for millions in cuts over the next several years due to ongoing deficit spending. While $40,000 may appear modest to the Board, to our community it represents real livelihoods, potentially the equivalent of someone’s employment or essential resources for our classrooms. In these trying times, every dollar must be allocated thoughtfully to support our students, educators, and staff, not diverted to redundant searches when a capable leader is already in place.
We call on the Board of Education to prioritize fiscal responsibility and internal talent by appointing Dr. Oscar Macias as the permanent Superintendent. This decision would not only save valuable resources but also affirm the district’s commitment to stability and progress. Our students, schools, families, employees, and community deserve no less.
Sincerely,
Members of the Burbank Teachers Association (BTA),
California School Employees Association (CSEA),
Burbank Association of School Administrators (BASA),
and Burbank Parent Teachers Association ()
Editor’s Note: The following has also been submitted and was asked to be included:
We regret that our initial communication from our letter did have complete clarity and transparency. We should have been clearer in our words. We are not small in number, but we have chosen not to share our names out of fear of retaliation or ostracism from our organizations or the district and board. So let us be clear in this revised version: All who participated in this writing did so of our own volition, and we want to emphasize that these words do not amount to official statements from BTA, CSEA, PTA, or BASA. That said, our words and thoughts should not be discounted; they represent the genuine concerns of dedicated members committed to the well-being of our district, now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Members of the Burbank Teachers Association (BTA),
California School Employees Association (CSEA),
Burbank Association of School Administrators (BASA),
and Burbank Parent Teachers Association ()
Well, here is a different prospective: I have observed Mr. Macias to be a master manipulator incapable of answering a direct question. Mr. Macias goes to great lengths to keep the stake holders in the dark about the goings on at the BUSD. (Don’t be fooled by The Bridge, it contains a bunch of regurgitated information we already know.) We need new leadership capable of leading, and not avoiding ownership for his/her actions.
Macias has cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars with his poor decision making and will ultimately cost the district millions more in legal fees and settlement agreements.
Macias has placed several people on paid leave. The public will never know why as they are personnel matters. The future settlements will also be the same – they will be called ‘confidential settlements’. They will be no accountability, they are designed that way.
The matter of the former BUSD member and $93,000 dollars wasted, the public will also be keep in the dark on this one. BUSD leadership will never share the truth, Macias just wants to move on and he thinks we will will forget. If you dare to question the failures of BUSD he calls you part of the problem. This is not leadership.
First Macias tells us the will be a Town Hall meeting, then when he realizes folks may ask difficult questions he “pivots” to a different kind of meeting where he can control the narrative: All questions must be submitted in ADVANCE. This is not quality leadership, this is ‘snake in the grass’ manipulation. Don’t fall for it. We can do better. The Superintendent job pays almost $400,000 dollars per year in total benefits. Think about it.
Very misleading to put all of those organizations at the bottom of your letter when none have officially acknowledged your position.
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