Simi Chooses Chico School Superintendent : Education: Robert W. Purvis is credited with improving relations in his district. His new job will start on Dec. 1.

A Northern California school superintendent with a reputation for promoting labor peace was chosen Monday night to head the Simi Valley Unified School District.

Robert W. Purvis, 57, who has headed the 12,000-student Chico Unified School District since 1987, was selected after a unanimous school board vote. He will become superintendent of Ventura County’s largest school district, with 18,000 students, on Dec. 1.

“He’s coming from a district that has a lot of similar problems that we have,” said board member Judy Barry. “In the three years he’s been in Chico, he’s completely turned the district around.”

In an interview earlier Monday, Purvis said he wants to improve troubled relations with the local teachers’ union, which filed 15 grievances against the district after board members made deep budget cuts.

“I hope to resolve some of those issues. I’ll be working closely with all employee groups to improve communications and involvement,” he said. “My second order of business will be to organize meetings with employees and other community members, perhaps over a cup of coffee, to learn about their interest in the district. I want to be highly visible to the community and the school district.”

When Purvis arrived in Chico three years ago, relations were tense between school and union officials, characterized by confrontational negotiations and a near-strike in 1978, said Mike Higginson, president of the Chico Unified Teachers Assn., which represents about 600 teachers.

“He made great strides in relations between the union and school district. He accepted the presence of a strong association and realized it would be better to work with us,” Higginson said. “He is the boss, but he has embraced the association and done a good job of bringing the district into focus.”

Currently, there are four grievances destined for arbitration in the Chico school district, Higginson said.

An arbitrator is considering the fate of grievances filed by the 730-member Simi Valley Educators Assn.

“The preliminary information looks good. He’s somebody who we believe will be able to open up communications. We’re looking forward to something like that,” said Bill Davenport, president of the Simi teachers’ union.

Purvis was hired in Chico to smooth out the relations and to help pass a bond measure to build more schools in the rapidly growing school district, said senior board member Mary Anne Houx.

“There were tough tensions then and he came with a ‘Let’s make peace’ attitude,” Houx said. “He’s very personable and good with community relations. I have nothing bad to say about him.”

Purvis received a doctorate in education from USC and started his career teaching math, history and social science in elementary and junior high schools in San Diego and Riverside County. He has served as a superintendent for the past 17 years at Buena Park Elementary School District, Sulphur Springs Union Elementary School District in Santa Clarita and Alpine Union Elementary School District in San Diego County.

There were 46 applicants when former Supt. John Duncan left his $97,000-a-year position last month to become head of San Ramon Valley Unified School District in Northern California. Associate Supt. Cathi Vogel has been serving as interim superintendent.

The district has scheduled a reception for Purvis at its headquarters on Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.