Interim Schools Chief Retires Again, for Now

It’s the changing of the guard for the top commanders at the Simi Valley Unified School District.

Interim Supt. Albert “Bud” Marley, who has led the district since July, is leaving Friday, passing the baton to Supt. Dan Flynn, who was hired on a 3-2 vote about two weeks ago.

Although the 66-year-old Marley is attending meetings, having breakfast with Flynn, and being paid until Oct. 31, he has not been at the district offices since the end of last week.

“There’s only room for one,” Marley said in a phone interview from his home.

He added that although he has left the district, he will always be on hand to answer questions or help out.

Though the semi-retired Marley said he hopes to help out at least one school district a year as an interim schools chief, his immediate plans center on his personal life, not his professional one.

A family reunion in San Diego, a short trip to Chicago and perhaps a longer jaunt to Alaska with his wife, Jackie, are some of the plans already scheduled on Marley’s calendar.

If a school district in dire straits should call, Marley said, he has the leisure of weighing all the options before deciding to go back to work.

“I don’t want to go back [to work] for a while, I need a rest in between,” he said.

“The intention of [being retired] is that you can pick and choose.”

As for words of wisdom for Flynn, Marley was quick to say that he offers suggestions only to those who ask. “Never give advice when you leave a place,” he said.