Breaking NewsZach Larsen’s Appointment as Superintendent Marks New Chapter for FUSD

By Staff Writers Scarlett Huang & Ekasha Sikka

On February 26, at the FUSD Board of Education meeting, board trustees unanimously voted to appoint Zack Larsen as the new superintendent, effective immediately, following the resignation of former Superintendent Erik Burmeister two weeks prior. Larsen grew up attending FUSD schools and has worked in the district for more than two decades. His well-established commitment to the community as both a student and educator played a significant role in his appointment as superintendent and the development of his priorities for the district. “We are confident that Mr. Larsen’s leadership will provide stability and continuity for our students, staff, and community during this transition,” Board President Larry Sweeney said during the board meeting. 

Larsen’s career in education began as a 5th and 6th-grade teacher at John Gomes Elementary School, where he worked for eight years before transitioning into administrative roles in 2007. He then joined MSJ, serving as the assistant principal, vice principal, and eventually principal throughout his 12 years at the school. During his tenure as the principal of MSJ, Larsen expanded course offerings, implemented mental health surveying, and updated school landscaping, considerably improving areas that had been neglected for years — such as the hill going down from the library and the intersection of Palm Avenue and Mission Blvd. “My belief has always been that if the environment and the landscape looks inviting and welcoming to students, that helps put them at ease, and they see that they are actually going to school on a campus where the adults believe it is important to take care of the campus for them,” Larsen said. As superintendent, Larsen hopes to expand this sentiment across the district, maintaining the ongoing Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) to complete infrastructure projects and keep campuses updated.

After leaving MSJ in 2019, Larsen took on the role of FUSD’s Director of Secondary Education, where he oversaw the integration of sixth grade into FUSD middle schools, supported foster and English learner students, and worked on special education job initiatives. He then moved on to serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, his most recent position before becoming superintendent. As Assistant Superintendent, Larsen was responsible for district-wide hiring, staff management and development, and union negotiations.

The process of appointing Larsen to superintendent was fairly straightforward, as he was already second-in-command as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, which familiarized him with district operations and current policy. The Board approached him with the opportunity, recognizing his extensive experience in FUSD and work in district-wide initiatives. “I am honored that the district considered me for this position. I have watched FUSD evolve over the decades I have been a student and educational worker, and I would like to maintain the rich sense of community I’ve seen in my years here,” Larsen said.

As superintendent, Larsen hopes to create a supportive, productive educational environment in FUSD during his term, a mentality he has kept throughout his educational career. “We, as educators, are always here to support students and create a healthy learning environment for them. This is what I always keep in mind when I address any tasks, especially staffing,” Larsen said. As Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Larsen was one of the many district officials who managed the hiring process, sometimes directly interviewing candidates. He has worked specifically with hiring paraeducators for public school special education programs. Due to FUSD’s $32 million budget deficit, though, supporting these special education programs will become more difficult, creating an imminent challenge that Larsen will have to face.

Larsen also worked directly with FUDTA on union negotiations while he was Assistant Superintendent, which is valuable experience that he brings directly into his new position. When he served as this position, he was a lead contact and negotiator for the ongoing Fremont Unified District Teacher Association (FUDTA) negotiations. Having been both a teacher and a district administrator, Larsen brings a varied perspective to union negotiations, understanding the complexities of meeting teachers’ demands while working with the budget parameters laid by state-provided funding. “We have great respect for our teachers and always want the best for our teachers and our students. Our negotiations are always trying to give the most that we can to the teachers because we are all working towards giving the students a better education,” Larsen said. Considering the ongoing FUDTA negotiations, which have been at an impasse since Jan. 29, 2024, Larsen’s experience and attitude could help the two parties come to a mutually beneficial agreement.

Larsen’s immediate goals as superintendent primarily include successfully executing FUSD’s LRFP, which will be funded by the recently approved $919 million Measure M bond, allotted to improve school infrastructure. “A lot of school buildings were built decades ago, including MSJ, and need to be refined or replaced, which is what we need to do with the nearly one billion dollars we just received from Measure M,” Larsen said. Additionally, as the district explores new sources of funding, especially a possible new parcel tax, a type of voter-approved property tax for a specific educational cause, Larsen aims to focus on ensuring that voter-raised funds will be going directly to improving student life and education.  “Our focus for the parcel tax will be to ensure that whatever funds we are asking voters to raise is student-targeted, and will benefit staff and programs that improve student life,” Larsen said.

Considering the imminent issues that the district was facing after Superintendent Burmeister’s resignation, it wasn’t surprising that they chose a person with more experience that could quickly take up the position. The FUSD press release emphasized Larsen’s extensive career in education. His experiences as an educator and leader have equipped him with the knowledge and exposure to approach the current imbalance between students’ and teachers’ interests and the new budget parameters. Larsen now steps into the superintendent role at a critical juncture, amid labor negotiations and a large budget deficit, where his leadership will not only shape the district’s immediate course but also define its future.