Placentia : James Fleming Named School Superintendent

James O. Fleming, superintendent of Hemet Unified School District for the last six years, will become superintendent of Placentia Unified School District on Feb. 1.

The Placentia school board unanimously voted for Fleming’s appointment at a special meeting Thursday afternoon. Fleming, whose annual salary will be $75,000 plus fringe benefits, succeeds Keith Larick, who left on June 30 to become superintendent of Sacramento Unified School District.

In announcing Fleming’s appointment, Stacy Holland, Placentia board president, said: “Dr. Fleming comes to our district knowing of our tradition of pride and excellence in education. He is a strong instructional leader and teacher advocate, and we look forward to having his expertise and vision at the helm in meeting the challenges before us.”

Fleming, his wife, Marilyn, and their five children live in Yorba Linda. Before becoming Hemet Unified’s superintendent, Fleming was an assistant superintendent in Tustin Unified School District from 1978 to 1981.

Fleming has a doctorate in school management from USC. He began his career in education as a teacher in Compton Union High School District in 1960. From 1961 to 1967, he was a teacher in Anaheim Union High School District, and from 1968 to 1974 he was an assistant principal and principal in Orange Unified School District. From 1974 to 1978, he was a principal in Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District.