School Panel Demotes Personnel Official
A 21-year veteran of the Simi Valley school district has been demoted from his post as director of classified personnel services, taking a pay cut of about $32,000.
The three-member Simi Valley Unified School District Personnel Commission took action against John Absmeier late last week. Absmeier was named to the position of “personnel analyst confidential,” responsible for negotiating contracts with the district’s 800 nonteaching employees, among other duties. His salary will be about $48,000.
As director, he made about $80,000.
Absmeier was out sick on Tuesday and has been unavailable for comment over the last several weeks as he met with the personnel commission in closed session. Commission members are appointed jointly by district and union officials.
District officials, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters, declined to give a reason for Absmeier’s demotion.
According to Jerry Pauley, the district’s new temporary director of classified personnel, Absmeier will appeal the action. No official search for a permanent replacement will be conducted until Absmeier’s appeal is heard.
Pauley, 58, retired in August from a similar position with the Ventura County Community College District.
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