New O.C. School Chief Vows to Focus on Teacher Recruitment

Orange County’s new top school official took office Monday, vowing to make teacher recruitment and funding of special education top priorities.

William M. Habermehl was sworn in as Orange County superintendent of schools, replacing John F. Dean, who announced his early retirement in February. Dean had held the elected position since 1990 and had two years left on his term.

Habermehl, an administrator in the county Department of Education for 23 years and associate superintendent the last five years, was appointed to the superintendent’s job by the trustees in late February. He was one of four candidates for the $197,950-a-year position.

In brief remarks to a crowd of more than 350 at Department of Education headquarters in Costa Mesa, Habermehl thanked the county board of education and praised its 1,800 employees “who every day are working very hard for the children of Orange County.”

“It’s the best job in the world; I’ve wanted this all my life,” Habermehl, 57, said during a brief break in greeting well-wishers, who included Assemblyman Lou Correa (D-Anaheim) and retired state Sen. Marian Bergeson.

The Department of Education oversees fiscal services for the county’s 27 school districts and provides direct services to 150,000 students, including those in special education, juvenile court schools, outdoor science schools and alternative schools.

As superintendent, Habermehl said teacher recruitment is among his chief priorities.

“We need to be able to hire the best and the brightest,” he said. “We have a high cost of living here, so [recruitment] is important.” As is special education funding, he said. “We’ve got to get the federal government to pay their fair share of that. So we’ll be working hard on all those issues.”

Habermehl, whose 34-year career in education includes working as a teacher, department chairman, campus and district administrator and director of curriculum, confirmed his intention to run for superintendent in the 2002 election.

Dean was not present at the swearing-in ceremony. His last day on the job was Friday.

At the time of his surprise announcement that he would step down as superintendent in order to travel and spend time with his family, Dean, 74, said that retiring with two years left on his term would give the board of education a chance to appoint a successor who could then seek election to the post with a high public profile.

When the board appointed Habermehl in February, trustee Kenneth Williams, who abstained, said he was concerned that the visibility of the superintendent’s job would give Habermehl an unfair advantage in the election. “Let the voters decide,” Williams said.

Habermehl had no lack of admirers who turned out for his swearing-in ceremony.

“I think Bill’s an entrepreneur in education and a visionary,” said Judy Cunningham, principal of South Lake Middle School in Irvine.