Irvine : School Board Fills Superintendent Post
The school board has chosen Dennis M. Smith, superintendent of the Cajon Valley Union School District, to lead the Irvine Unified School District, pending a visit today to his San Diego County district.
Board members would not confirm that Smith, 44, is the choice among three finalists, saying that they will make a formal announcement on Monday. But several school district officials said Thursday that Smith, who was superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District from 1986 to 1991, is the board’s selection.
Smith could not be reached for comment.
A contingent of Irvine school district officials and community members plan to tour Smith’s district before a final decision is announced.
The Cajon Valley district has about 18,500 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Irvine Unified has 21,700 students and has been without a superintendent since David E. Brown left in October to head the Napa Valley Unified School District.
In April, 1994, Smith withdrew at the last minute as the choice for superintendent of the Orange Unified School District because of turmoil among board members. The district had gone through seven superintendents since 1989.
Before going to Laguna, Smith was assistant superintendent of the Crane School District in Yuma, Ariz.
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