Another Laguna Beach School Official Quits

The assistant superintendent of the beleaguered Laguna Beach Unified School District resigned Tuesday night, leaving the district virtually without administrators in the wake of last summer’s financial crisis.

Robert A. Klempen resigned, effective Nov. 12, to join the Palos Verdes Unified School District as assistant superintendent.

In a letter dated Tuesday, Klempen said he submitted his resignation “with a great deal of mixed emotions.” But he had been openly job-hunting outside the district since before the financial crisis, and when invited to apply for Laguna Beach’s superintendent’s job, he declined.

Klempen was the last of four administrators remaining after a flurry of departures followed the district’s shocking financial announcement two months ago that its $13-million budget was short by more than $2 million.

Budget problems first arose in February, when decreased revenue from property taxes--along with losses from the Orange County bankruptcy and the 1993 firestorm--created a yawning gap between income and outlays.

The board slashed a quick $1 million from its budget, but then learned there still was a $650,000 shortfall.

Combined with unforeseen costs, this meant the district was $800,000 short. (Then, an additional $500,000 in private donations was withheld from the district, until board members could prove they had learned a better bookkeeping method.)

The total bite left parents and students infuriated; many demanded an immediate leadership change.

On Aug. 12, the board fired Chief Financial Officer Terry Bustillos. The following day, Supt. Paul M. Possemato tendered an early retirement offer. Later that same month, special services director Nancy Hubbell resigned to take a job elsewhere.

The exodus left only Klempen, along with principals of the district’s four schools and two vice principals. Now, Klempen is gone. Officials of the district last month appointed Jackson E. Parham, a legal consultant to the district, as interim superintendent.

School board candidate Steve Rabago said that Klempen’s resignation is a blow to the district.

“He is really the last guy in the district that I would have expected to leave,” Rabago said.

Klempen, who has been with the Laguna Beach district for eight years, began as principal of Top of the World Elementary School and later became assistant superintendent for instructional services.