It’s a Tough Job--and No One Wants to Do It

Plans to quickly appoint an interim superintendent for the beleaguered Laguna Beach Unified School District have hit a snag because no one in the current administration seems to want the top job.

School board members had hoped to begin interviewing candidates from their rapidly shrinking administrative staff late last week, but received no applications, even through they welcomed district officials to show interest.

“No one wanted to interview,” school board President Jan Vickers said Monday.

Even Assistant Supt. Robert Klempen, who said last week he would be happy to take the post, changed his mind: “I decided to decline the offer. Right now my energies are really focused in on the business management of the district.”

The district’s financial crisis came to light Aug. 6, when a consultant revealed a $650,000 shortfall in the 1996-97 budget, which, combined with unanticipated expenses, created an $800,000 shortage. The board had approved a tentative budget in June and faces adopting a final spending plan that’s expected to include cutbacks to offset the deficit.

News of the shortfall infuriated some parents, who demanded a leadership change.

On Aug. 12, the board fired Chief Financial Officer Terry Bustillos, and Supt. Paul M. Possemato tendered an early retirement offer the following day. On Thursday, special services director Nancy Hubbell resigned, effective Sept. 3, to take a job elsewhere.

The district administrative team now consists only of Klempen, the principals of the district’s four schools, and two vice principals. Klempen said last week he has been applying in recent months for superintendent posts in other districts in and out of the state.

But with schools opening Sept. 5, Klempen said Monday that he and the principals are pulling together to keep the district operating on schedule, despite the disruption.

“We all agree that we’re all going to pitch in together and get us through the start of the school year and to get the budget approved,” Klempen said. “We’ll keep ‘er goin’.”

Vickers said the administrators she spoke with generally believed they would serve the district better by staying in the jobs they hold.

“They’re really involved with their sites . . . and getting the school year off to a strong start and feel that that’s where they can do the best service,” Vickers said.

The school board has been scrambling in recent days to restore public confidence and rebuild their district’s management team. Officials said Monday their top priority is rebuilding a balanced budget, which must be presented to the county by Sept. 8.

“We have to address the budget and the start of school,” Vickers said. “So we have our hands full.”

Graeme Irish, the consultant who revealed the shortfall, has been compiling new projections on the district’s income and expenses. Trustees plan to use those figures to rework the budget.

After meeting four times last week, trustees met again Monday night with school principals to discuss class scheduling for the fall. They plan to meet later in closed session to discuss other issues, including the appointment of an interim superintendent. Another public hearing is scheduled for 8 tonight at the Laguna Beach High School Artists Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

The district’s attorney, Mark Bresee, said the board is likely to consider superintendents from other California school districts.

“There are, around the state, numerous retired top-level school administrators who work as short-term consultants for districts to act as interim superintendents,” Bresee said. “From my experience, I would say 98% of interim superintendents are either somebody promoted from within or a retired school district superintendent.”

Possemato, 62, said he offered the board four options regarding his retirement, including one that would have allowed him to work past his February retirement date at no salary, but board members thought he should leave sooner because of the tension in the community. He cleared the last of his things from his office Thursday.