MBUSD announced that Superintendent Dr. John Bowes will retire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. His official retirement will be effective June 30, and the district has begun the search for a new superintendent.
District officials say they want to maintain stability while preparing for the future. As the process begins, the district has outlined steps in the search and ways for the community to get involved.
I think they’re looking for someone with experience, someone who’s been a leader at several types of campuses,” Huynh said. “Because essentially they are going to have to support people from all different types of sites.”
Costa is the largest school in MBUSD, with approximately 2,500 students, and it is known for its academics, athletics, and extracurricular programs. Because of its size, Costa will likely be impacted by decisions made by the district office and the next superintendent.
“It’s important for parents to be able to have an opinion and vote on who will be taking care of their child(ren),” parent of junior Parker Rish said. ”Otherwise, we’d be completely blind to who we are trusting with them.”
To gather input, MBUSD held a public forum on February 17, where parents, teachers, students, and residents shared what qualities they want in the next superintendent. The district has also posted an online survey on its website for anyone in the MBUSD community to complete.
“The MBUSD Board of Trustees has retained Education Support Services to facilitate the search for MBUSD’s next superintendent,” As stated in the district website. “And invited the community to share input at a public forum.”
While leadership at the district level is changing, Huynh emphasized that Costa’s core mission remains on student achievement, well-being, and maintaining a strong campus culture throughout the transition.
“No one likes change because it’s disruptive,” stated Huynh. “But it’s a chance to explore new ideas and new strategies, and know that we’re gonna do it together.”
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