SIMI VALLEY : School District Hires Financial Consultant

A finance specialist for the U.S. Department of Education has been hired to oversee budgets and financial matters for the Simi Valley Unified School District.

David M. Kanthak will begin working as the district’s assistant superintendent for business services on Jan. 2.

For nearly 15 years, Kanthak served as a chief business official in school systems in Duarte and Glendale and in Falls Church, Va.

During that time, he worked extensively with school construction projects and school bonds.

He also has taught math and science in fifth to eighth grades, and has represented other school boards in collective bargaining.

Kanthak takes the place of Lowell Schultz, who has been filling in temporarily since the first of the year while the district looked for a permanent replacement for Ralph Wilson, who left the position in July 1994.

Schultz will return to his position as the director of information services, which he has held since 1990.

He also will take a pay cut from $79,000 to $73,000. Kanthak will make $81,000.

The district faces many financial hurdles in the coming months as it sorts out the costs of moving from three- to four-year high schools and opening up a new magnet school.

The move is estimated to cost more than $500,000 in start-up costs, plus $200,000 annually.