4 Administrators Quit Schools as Election Looms

Within a week’s time, three veteran administrators and one principal announced their departures from the Irvine Unified School District--a possible side effect of the acclaimed district’s perilous financial straits.

Three of the four retired, and the fourth resigned, Irvine Supt. Pat Clark White said. Among them, they account for 77 years of experience in the Irvine school system.

The administrators’ reasons for leaving varied from wanting to spend more time with their families to considering a consulting career. Two of those retiring, science and math curriculum coordinator Dorothy Terman and health services coordinator Sally Snyder, stood to see their programs pared if a $95-per-parcel tax fails April 11.

Faced with a $4-million deficit, the district is on the verge of laying off more than 120 teachers and slashing high-quality arts, science and music programs unless the tax passes. Irvine is also about to undertake an administrative restructuring that began with the recent hiring of an interim chief financial officer.

School board President Jeanne Flint expressed regret at the loss of talent and experience.

“I believe change sometimes creates a situation where people do leave, and we are clearly in a change environment, from the budget being slashed to programs changing to some of the restructuring. . . .” she said. “Those are real stressors in the district.”

The three people retiring acknowledged that, while career and personal considerations were paramount for them, they couldn’t help considering the district’s shaky finances.

This is the time of year when teachers and administrators typically let their employers know their future plans so districts have enough time to recruit replacements. White said the loss of 3 of the 40 or so administrators at district headquarters is not a high number, given the employees’ ages and length of experience.

But Trustee Mike Regele expressed a different view. “I, as a board member, am surprised by the number of retirements . . . and the resignation,” he said. “In my 10 years, I do not remember us having that number of key administrative people retiring and resigning clustered together in such a short period of time.”

Those departing are:

* Health services coordinator Snyder, 61. She joined the district as a school nurse in 1972, when the school system was still being planned. During her tenure, Synder has overseen health education programs and supervised the nurses and their assistants at school sites.

She has seen changes due to budget cuts and the more complicated health needs of students, some of whom require daily doses of medicine or tubal feeding.

“Over the years I’ve been in Irvine, there have been a number of challenges,” said Snyder, who plans to devote her retirement to family and volunteerism. This time around, she said, the challenge seems different because it doesn’t seem like everyone is working toward a common goal.

* Terman, 57, the math and science coordinator. A 21-year Irvine employee, she has helped craft Irvine’s strong science curriculum, including its corps of science specialists devoted to grades four through six. That program, at risk of disappearing, has been recognized for excellence by the National Science Teachers Assn.

Terman also hopes to spend more time with her family and volunteer activities in the coming years. “It’s my time,” she said. “I want to go out at a positive time.”

* Meadow Park Elementary School Principal Sharon DeNisi, 57. A district employee for 15 years, DeNisi helped steer her school toward winning the federal Blue Ribbon award--one of the highest honors for public schools. She was also a recent nominee for the state administrators association’s elementary school principal of the year.

Expecting her first grandchild soon, DeNisi said she wants to have the freedom to visit frequently. One of her parting wishes, she said, was adequate funding “so Irvine can maintain the excellent programs it has offered all these years.”

* Facilities Planning Director Corinne Loskot, 38, who resigned. In her 13 years with Irvine, Loskot has helped plan new schools, including Westpark Elementary, Canyon View Elementary and Northwood High.

Funded differently than curriculum efforts, facilities aren’t affected by the district’s financial uncertainty, said Loskot. She said the booming economy allows her a chance to consider another job in facilities planning. She hopes to work as a consultant in the interim.

In addition to the departures, Irvine’s deputy superintendent for business services, Paul Reed, has been on sick leave for two months. He is expected to return in a few weeks, White said. When he returns, Reed will retain his previous facilities and planning duties. The new financial officer will handle budgeting.