Rincon Valley School District Hired Interim Leader
The school board appointed Matthew Harris to guide the district following the resignation of its previous superintendent.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Administration
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The Rincon Valley Union School District board has hired Matthew Harris as interim superintendent to fill the leadership vacancy. Harris, an educator with over 2.5 decades of experience, was selected to lead the district of 3,200 students through the 2026-27 school year.
Why it matters
The appointment provides necessary stability for the district after the sudden resignation of former superintendent Mike Herfurth. District officials specifically sought a non-retiree for the role to bypass state pension system limits on work hours.
The district serves approximately 3,200 students and has faced recent financial strain, including a negative budget certification in the 2025-26 school year. This budget pressure previously resulted in the closure of the district's oldest campus and 60 staff layoffs.
The players
Matthew Harris
He is the newly appointed interim superintendent for the Rincon Valley Union School District who previously led Petaluma City Schools.
Mike Herfurth
He served as the superintendent of the Rincon Valley Union School District until his resignation on Oct. 8, 2026.
The details
Board members reviewed candidate recommendations and finalized the hiring of Harris during a closed session meeting. Harris previously spent five years leading Petaluma City Schools before taking this temporary assignment in Santa Rosa.
Timeline
Oct. 8, 2026: Mike Herfurth resigned as district superintendent.
Oct. 13, 2026: The board moved to approve the hiring of Matthew Harris.
Oct. 22, 2026: The district will vote on a firm to lead the permanent superintendent search.
January 2027: The district expects to formally initiate the permanent search process.
June 30, 2027: The interim leadership contract for Harris is scheduled to conclude.
Culture Shift
The school board's strategic hire reflects a broader trend of California districts navigating strict state pension rules that limit the employment of retired administrators. By bypassing retirees, the district ensures continuous leadership without violating mandatory work-hour thresholds.
Families and staff in the district will work under interim leadership through June 30, 2027, as the board shifts focus to stabilizing the district's budget. This transition period follows a year of significant operational changes, including recent campus closures and staff reductions.
The takeaway
The district's interim hiring strategy underscores the logistical complexities schools face when managing leadership vacancies under strict pension regulations. Residents can expect further updates regarding the future of district leadership as the permanent search process begins in early 2027.
What happens next
The district board is scheduled to vote on a permanent superintendent search firm on Oct. 22, 2026, with a full search process expected to commence in January 2027.
Further reading
For more information on local school board decisions, visit Santa Rosa Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
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