Antelope Valley Offers Contract to New Schools Chief

Trustees of the 12,865-student Antelope Valley Union High School District has offered a contract to a new superintendent who was hailed for his people skills and financial expertise.

After meeting in closed session, trustees last week offered a four-year contract to Robert L. Girolamo, who now heads the Southern Humboldt Joint Unified School District in Northern California. The board is scheduled to ratify the contract during a regular scheduled meeting Wednesday, said Ray Monti, the district’s assistant superintendent of personnel services.

“The board agreed he was the No. 1 candidate. (Trustees) believe Dr. Girolamo has the ability to build a team and bring everybody together,” Monti said.

Girolamo, chosen from a pool of more than 50 applicants, will replace Supt. Kenneth Brummel, who was removed in August after a $12-million budget shortfall, largely blamed on financial mismanagement, came to light. The financial problems prompted the Los Angeles County Office of Education to appoint a fiscal monitor to oversee district finances and led the board to pay $100,000 to void the remaining 2 1/2 years of Brummel’s contract. The board hired an interim superintendent, Douglas Giles, who served from September to April 1.

Girolamo, who could not be reached for comment, will start May 1 and will receive an annual salary of $89,000. Before becoming the top administrator of Southern Humboldt, Girolamo served as superintendent of Merced Union High School District from 1981 to 1989. While there, he was credited with establishing strict budget controls, district officials said.