OXNARD : Business Chief for Schools to Retire

Ardyce Driskill calls the two major driving forces of her character--ambition and determination--”twin devils.”

But she has no regrets that those characteristics eventually made her assistant superintendent of business and fiscal services of the Oxnard Elementary School District.

“There’s been lots of satisfaction,” she said. In 13 years at the district, she has overseen the building of several new schools and was the chief person responsible for advising that the district convert to year-round schools in 1986.

Driskill, who will retire at the end of the month, is well-known for her work ethic and vast knowledge in her field, said her boss, Supt. Norman R. Brekke.

“She’s held in high regard,” Brekke said, “and I can say with some assurance that she is one of the premier assistant superintendents in the state of California. Her advice is consistently sought by superintendents and fiscal officers all over.”

Bob Smith, who holds a position with the county schools superintendent that is similar to Driskill’s, said she is extremely knowledgeable in her field.

“We hate to see her leave the county,” Smith said. “We hate to lose an individual with the expertise that she has.”

Brekke said Driskill’s knowledge comes from having started a career at the lowest level of fiscal services, as an account clerk with a West Covina school district in 1956.

Through the years, she moved to several school districts and moved up in rank and responsibility, while raising four children and going to night school for nine years to get her bachelor’s degree in accounting at Cal State Long Beach in 1970. She received her master’s of science degree in educational administration from USC in 1973.

“When I came to Oxnard, there was no place to go but up,” Driskill said.