Tales of His Demise Were Exaggerated

Over the past week I’ve read and reread all the reports analyzing my negotiated surrender after 100 days as superintendent of the Simi Valley Unified School District. It seems everyone has their own perspective as to why I resigned and the underlying cause.

I’ve read in amazement how special-interest groups are pointing their finger at one another and feel it is my duty to set the record straight on one recipient of these accusations, former board President Norm Walker.

Among the most outlandish accusations directed at Norm Walker are that he controlled the inner workings of the school district, used me to push forward his own agenda, wasn’t a team player, was both board president and superintendent, resigned the board presidency to “save his neck” as he made me oral promises outside of my contract and has ruined my career.

Each of those accusations is completely false. Mr. Walker and I regularly reviewed the school board agenda, district policies, the overarching goals of the school district and my ongoing job performance. We seldom discussed the inner workings of the district.

As for Mr. Walker’s “hidden agenda,” the only agenda Mr. Walker ever voiced was his unwavering demand for high academic expectations and accountability. He repeatedly stated that our district should be aligned with the state frameworks and standards as approved by the state Board of Education. This was coupled with a philosophy of staying focused on the children and being sensitive to the needs of parents and the community at large.

Another outrageous assertion is that Mr. Walker resigned to “save his neck” from a lawsuit for employment promises he made to me. The only employment promise Norm Walker ever made me was what was agreed to by the entire board in my contract. His only oral promise was to support me in succeeding as superintendent, for the good of the entire school district. He kept his promise!

One of the final assertions I find personally insulting is that Mr. Walker has ruined my career. Please do not take pity on my plight. Through the principles of hard work, honesty and perseverance, a supportive family and faith in my God, I will again be a superintendent of schools. During the short time I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Walker he has enriched my life, and I am now proud to call him a friend.

With regard to my demise, after you strip away all the rhetoric, the underlying cause is simple: I came in on a 3-2 vote of confidence and trust led by board President Walker. Sometime during my tenure I lost the confidence and trust of one of those three supporters. Without majority support I felt it appropriate to offer my resignation and allow the board and its new president, Janice DiFatta, to work with a superintendent they were more aligned with.

If the district is to achieve the distinction of a lighthouse district and provide exemplary educational programs to its 19,000 students, the educational community must heal its wounds and move forward. If the school board and the special-interest groups fail to heal their wounds before moving forward, the same result will occur as it has in the past, and in the end the children will suffer.