Petaluma City Schools is back to square one in its search for a new leader after a whirlwind weekend of staffing shifts.
According to the Petaluma Argus-Courier, on Friday, the district enthusiastically announced that former administrator Dr. Maité Iturri would return to take the helm as superintendent this summer. However, by Monday, Dr. Iturri withdrew her acceptance, choosing instead to remain in her current role leading the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District.
The sudden reversal followed a special Sunday board meeting in her home district, prompting an apology to Petaluma families for the disruption. Outgoing Superintendent Matthew Harris says the search will now be relaunched with a focus on finding long-term stability.