Board Picks Townsend to Run Problem-Beset Vista School District

Rene Townsend, associate superintendent of the Vista school district for five years, will become superintendent July 1 as the district struggles with unprecedented problems of overcrowding, integration and a shortage of money.

Townsend, 44, will become the only woman superintendent of a unified (kindergarten through 12th grade) district in San Diego County when she succeeds Gary Olson, who is retiring after five years as superintendent.

Olson, 59, formally submitted his resignation to the school board Wednesday night. After a two-hour closed-door meeting, the board emerged to announce the promotion of Townsend.

Olson, who has been with Vista schools for 24 years, said his options for the future include teaching school administration at the college level, traveling with his wife in Central America, or possibly working as a school consultant.

‘Walking on Air’

“I’m walking on air because I know this was the right decision for me,” Olson said. “I also feel very good that Rene will be taking over. These are terribly tough jobs, and I think it’s time for me to do something different.”

School board President Marcia Viger said Olson had called board members earlier in the week to announce his decision. She said Olson had another year on his contract and that board members were pleased with his performance as superintendent.

Townsend will become superintendent at a time when the district is beset with school overcrowding, lack of money to build new schools, and racial and ethnic polarization between heavily minority “inner-city” schools and predominantly Anglo schools in the sprawling suburbs.

Townsend, who met Thursday with other top administrators, said her goal as superintendent will be “to keep our focus on a quality educational program while trying to solve these other problems.”

On Wednesday, for example, the school board voted to form a task force of teachers, administrators and parents to prepare a plan for year-round schools. Double-sessions are also possible.

“Unprecedented growth has left us with a crisis in providing facilities,” Viger said. “Overcrowding creates problems everywhere: class size, transportation, scheduling, teacher morale. We actually have schools that are so overcrowded that students have to make an appointment to go to the bathroom. Even then, the toilets overflow nearly every day.”

Vista schools closed in June with 12,600 students and opened in September with 14,011. School officials see a need to open at least one new school a year for the foreseeable future.

The board may place a bond measure on the November ballot to try to get money to build schools. A new high school, Rancho Buena Vista, was opened last fall but the board is considering a lawsuit against the contracting firm because of its alleged failure to meet a deadline.

Busing Problem

Another thorny problem involves the possible use of busing for integration.

The percentage of black, Latino and other minority students at Bobier and Santa Fe-California elementary schools has increased sharply, while new schools opened to accommodate new upscale subdivisions are overwhelmingly Anglo.

Townsend has taken a lead role in trying to win public acceptance for the idea that busing may be needed to create ethnic and racial balance throughout the district, which is one-third minority. Her position has been that integration improves education for both Anglo and minority students.

Still, a recent survey of parents showed resistance to the idea of busing, and the board has yet to decide the issue. A year ago the board backed down in the face of similar opposition from parents.

Townsend, a resident of Encinitas, has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in educational administration from San Diego State University.

Taught in Poway

She taught at a junior high school and a continuation high school in Poway before coming to Vista 11 years ago as assistant principal at Washington Middle School.

Townsend later became principal and then five years ago was given the No. 2 job in the district administration as associate superintendent for educational services.

Viger said board members moved to appoint Townsend as Olson’s successor immediately to provide “for a easy and good transition.”

“Rene has the respect of the staff within the district,” Viger said. “She understands the complexities and nuances of the players and the problems. That’s important because we may have to make some very difficult decisions to deal with the untenable position of runaway growth.”

Townsend’s salary as superintendent has not been set. Olson is paid $79,000 a year. As associate superintendent, Townsend is paid $68,000.