The New Braunfels Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously named assistant superintendent for business and operations, Randy Moczygemba, as the lone finalist for superintendent Monday night.
The 7-0 vote begins a 21-day waiting period before the school board may officially offer Moczygemba a contract. During that 21-day waiting period, three town hall-style “receptions” will be held for the public to get to know Moczygemba.
The vote on his approval will take place at the Dec. 14 school board meeting.
Current superintendent Mike Smith resigned after three years on the job in September, prompting the search for someone to fill the district’s top job.
Receptions will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Klein Road Elementary, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at New Braunfels Middle School and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the New Braunfels High School Library.
Moczygemba has a varied resume in education and administration. He served as assistant principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent in Lamesa ISD from 1990 to 1999, vice president of Lamesa National Bank for a year, and from 2000 to 2007 he was superintendent of Medina ISD. He was hired as assistant superintendent in NBISD in June 2007.
Before going into administrative positions, Moczygemba taught agricultural science in Post ISD, and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s from Texas Tech University.
At least one member of the audience was displeased with the way the school board came to their decision.
“I feel the board should open the search externally. The board said they would take the search externally on Oct. 4, they lied,” said Jay Patrick, a New Braunfels resident who addressed the board prior to their discussion and vote.
“This rush job robs your candidate of credibility,” he said. “Now we have an exit agreement with Mike Smith that could be double dipping.”
“The feedback that we got was to pursue a candidate internally,” said Greg Schlather, school board president.
After the meeting, Moczygemba said, “I’m looking forward to a long tenure at NBISD.”
“It’s a unique opportunity to be a lone internal candidate because I feel like I’m three years ahead than if I came from a district outside,” he said.
Mike Smith, the outgoing superintendent, said, “Randy’s a great guy, experienced, he’s got everything you can look for in a superintendent. The district will go to new heights with his leadership.”
When asked if he would stay on through the end of his contract in June 2010 and what he would do, Smith said he would stick around, “To provide consulting, whatever they need.” Smith will continue to be paid until June 30, 2010 — even if a new superintendent is hired.
