ORANGE
In a district known for unusual measures, school board members in Orange last week began probing another revolutionary idea: replacing retiring Supt. Robert L. French with an executive committee of board members and school administrators.
The suggestion drew immediate criticism from parents. “The plane needs a pilot, the store needs a manager, the state needs a governor and our district needs a superintendent,” said Cynthia Drury, the president of the Orange Unified PTA Council.
Board member Martin Jacobson first floated the concept of a governing group of three board members and three district administrators. After tussling with French during his five-year tenure, some board members saw a change in hierarchy as a way of improving communication between elected officials and paid educators in the 30,000-student district.
But now, after unwanted publicity and a chorus of parent protests, a majority of board members no longer support pursuing the idea. “We are going to get a new superintendent,” said Bill Lewis, the school board president.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.