County Schools Aide to Take Local Post

Bob Smith, Ventura County schools’ assistant superintendent of business and personnel services since 1987, has resigned to take a similar job in Ojai, school officials said.

Smith will be leaving July 1 to become assistant superintendent of business and administrative services at the Ojai Unified School District.

Smith was praised by several members of the Ventura County Board of Education and Ventura County schools Supt. Charles Weis for his work. “He is an outstanding educator,” Weis said.

Smith, who has lived in Ojai for 14 years, said he looks forward to a shorter commute.

“This is an opportunity for me to work within a district I know well, and have an impact on my community,” he said.

Smith joined the county superintendent of schools office in 1981. In 1984, he moved to the Oxnard Union High School District, where he served as assistant business manager and later as business manager.

He returned to the county offices of education three years later.

In Ojai, Smith’s responsibilities will include the administration of a $16-million annual budget.

“There will be a lot of new challenges in Ojai,” Smith said.

“One of the major ones will be trying to improve facilities.”

Smith said the current contentious atmosphere on the county Board of Education had no impact on his decision.