Palo Alto Official Named New Glendale Schools Chief

The Glendale school board has selected James R. Brown as superintendent of schools to succeed retiring Supt. Robert Sanchis, officials said Wednesday.

Brown, head of the 8,800-student Palo Alto Unified School District, was the unanimous selection, said board President Jeanne Bentley.

Reached by telephone at his Palo Alto office, Brown said a bond issue for school construction and repair will be a priority for Glendale schools.

“I drove around the district when I visited a few weeks ago and we have a lot of work to do on our facilities. We’ve got to do something about that, to make schools a safe place for the students.”

Brown said he will probably “keep my mouth shut for awhile” once he takes over the position and listen to parents, teachers, administrators, students and other groups as he develops priorities.

He said he also wants to “reaffirm the importance of our central mission in public education, to provide high-quality teaching and learning for children, and to help all children achieve at high levels.”

Brown verbally accepted the job Tuesday. The board will vote to formally appoint him to the post later this month, Bentley said.

All five board members interviewed school officials, city officials and business leaders in Palo Alto about Brown’s record.

Bentley and board member Pam Ellis praised Brown’s “businesslike and people-oriented” management style, and said they expect him to help the district forge a closer relationship with city government.

Before taking over the Palo Alto district in 1989, Brown was superintendent of the Lompoc Unified School District from 1985-89, superintendent of the Cambria Public Schools District from 1978-85, and an administrator and principal at school districts in Riverside and Pasadena.