New Superintendent Picked for Schools

Simi Valley trustees picked a new superintendent to lead their tumultuous, sprawling district starting in January, but declined to reveal the candidate’s name Friday until contract details are hammered out.

Trustees said the candidate, an experienced California educator, has not yet notified his current school district--which is a K-12 school system slightly smaller than Simi Valley. All details will become public next Friday.

“It’s too soon to be releasing names before we can talk about the contract status,” trustee Norm Walker said. “We do know that he is very well-liked in the district he’s in. He needs to break this to his board and his community.”

Simi Valley, an 18,896-student school system, has been without a permanent superintendent since Mary Beth Wolford resigned abruptly in June. After nearly 10 years with the Simi Valley Unified School District, Wolford left her $102,485 post six months earlier than planned after the board rejected Wolford’s in-house choice to fill an administrative vacancy.

Robert Purvis, the Simi Valley schools superintendent before Wolford, agreed to leave retirement for six months to help the district through its transition.

The unanimous selection follows months of closed-door interviews. After the difficulties with Wolford, trustees hired search consultant Leland B. Newcomer for $7,000 to find qualified candidates.

Despite the fracas, Walker and colleague Debbie Sandland said the district had no difficulties attracting qualified contenders.

“This district has a long-standing reputation in the state as one of the best school districts around,” Walker said. “It’s a great place to work and live.”

The field of contenders--all from California schools, none from Ventura County--was winnowed from five to three before trustees reached their decision.

Newly elected trustee Caesar O. Julian, who will replace the retiring Judy Barry, sat in on the final selection but did not vote.

The new superintendent has vast educational experience, trustees said, including several posts as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, consultant and a teacher. He also has private sector experience.

Sandland described the new superintendent as a budget-minded, student-oriented leader with a strong bent toward academic achievement.

“We hired someone highly qualified to serve in our district,” she said. “He was clearly outstanding. It’s a really good match.”

In particular, Sandland said she was impressed with the school chief’s commitment to children.

“I really liked what he had to say about children,” she said. “His attitude is that no child should ever lose dignity.”