IRVINE : Board, Superintendent Candidates to Meet

School board members will meet behind closed doors Saturday with five finalists for the job of Irvine Unified School District superintendent .

Former Supt. David E. Brown left last October to head the Napa Valley Unified School District. Brown earned $105,000 a year in Irvine.

The Irvine board initially delayed the search for a new superintendent after the county declared bankruptcy on Dec. 6. Deputy Supt. Dean Waldfogel was appointed interim superintendent of the 21,700-student district. He is the only one of three deputy superintendents who is not a candidate for the top job.

Deputy Supts. Susan Long and Paul Reed were previously interviewed by the school board and remain candidates.

The other candidates are from California, according to school board member Mike Regele. Board members chose not to extend the search beyond the state because of the cost of relocation.

“The candidates are very strong,” Regele said. He declined further comment.

Known for high test scores and innovative programs, Irvine Unified has been hit hard by the county bankruptcy. It had $107 million--more than any other school district--in the investment pool when the county declared bankruptcy Dec. 6. Officials estimate an overall $12-million loss due to the collapse of the county investment, a figure that includes projected interest charges from new loans needed to avoid bankruptcy.

Trustees have cut $2.2 million from next school year’s $100-million budget and have sent out notices of potential layoffs to a number of teachers, administrators and classified employees.

The school board plans to have a new superintendent in place by the beginning of the new school year in September.