Petaluma school district hires Roseville official as next superintendent

The Petaluma City Schools District has hired a new superintendent from Roseville to lead the elementary and high school district beginning this summer.

Gary Callahan, 50, was introduced at the school board meeting Tuesday night and will take over July 1. He signed a three-year, $180,000 contract.

Callahan replaces Steve Bolman, who is retiring at the end of June. Bolman was a top business administrator with the district for 19 years before being tapped as superintendent four years ago.

Callahan’s appointment comes at a time of labor strife with teachers, who are seeking a 4 percent wage increase, while the district has proposed a 2.5 percent raise. A mediator was brought in to help to reach an agreement, and some progress has been made toward a compromise, board President Mike Baddeley said.

The district includes six elementary schools in the Petaluma City Elementary School District with an enrollment of about 2,120. The Petaluma Joint Union High School District includes two junior high schools, a community day school, two high schools, two alternative/continuation schools and a continuation high school, with a combined enrollment of about 4,900.

Baddeley said the district reached out to teachers, administrators and community members for input as to what kind of superintendent was the right fit. Teachers had complained that the district wasn’t receptive to their input on a variety of subjects.

“We listened and we heard, and I think we came up with a wonderful candidate who’s going to be great for the district,” he said.

Callahan comes from the Roseville City School District, where for four years he was the assistant superintendent of educational services. Before that, he was the director of secondary education, interventions and assessment and K-12 professional development for six years at the Woodland Joint Unified School District.

He has also been an elementary teacher, a principal and vice principal, an adjunct instructor at Teacher’s College of San Joaquin and has worked at the Placer County Office of Education.

Callahan also established a nonprofit corporation to help low-income youths, called K-12 Kids Foundation.

He has a master’s degree in curriculum and instructional leadership from National University in San Diego and multiple teaching credentials.

A statement from the district says Callahan “is enthusiastic about coming to Petaluma to devote his energy to the students, staff and parents.”

“His inspiration comes from the countless success stories he has witnessed as a teacher and administrator,” the announcement said. “He firmly believes in the profound impact teaching and learning can have on the lives of our students.”

Callahan lives in Davis with his wife, Kerry, and their three children.

Bolman was paid a base salary of about $173,000, plus about $50,000 in benefits and retirement.

In addition to his base salary, Callahan will receive about $1,400 a month toward health care, dental coverage and an allowance for his car and phone. His retirement details were not in the contract approved by the board Tuesday night.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.