Schools’ Business Services Head Resigns

Assistant school district Supt. Dave Kanthak announced his resignation Thursday, saying he plans to leave for Temecula in Riverside County with his wife on Feb. 13.

The 53-year-old Kanthak, who has headed the business services department for the Simi Valley Unified School District for the past two years, said he will begin working for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s finance division almost immediately. He cited personal and professional reasons for leaving.

To date, there is no replacement, though district officials have just begun their search.

The news came hard to his receptionist, Marie Miyagishima, who has worked in the fiscal department for 11 years under various bosses.

“We finally got someone who could run this department,” she said. “He is not on an ego trip. He’s down to earth. He treats everyone well. This will be a great loss.”

While working for the county’s largest school district. which serves about 19,500 students, Kanthak has been especially helpful as the overseer of the district’s surplus property, Supt. Dan Flynn said. The school district has been trying to sell some of its extra land and buildings to help modernize its 29 campuses.

Before coming to Simi Valley, Kanthak worked for the U.S. Department of Education in Washington as a finance specialist.

He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration.