Interim Chief Hired for Conejo Schools

Neil Schmidt, former superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and once the schools chief in Fillmore, has taken the helm of Ventura County’s second-largest school district.

Conejo Valley Unified School District officials this week hired Schmidt as interim superintendent while they search for a permanent replacement for former schools chief Jerry Gross. After eight years in the Thousand Oaks district, Gross left in June to head a larger school district in Orange County.

Schmidt, 60, retired in June from the Santa Monica district, where he had been superintendent for nine years. He said he decided to work one more year after Conejo Valley officials contacted him about the interim post.

“It’s a good board--they’ve got a fantastic education philosophy and high expectations,” he said. “I thought I would like to be a part of that.”

School board members decided to hire an interim superintendent who would not be a candidate for the permanent post, which made retired school officials the best candidates, said board President Pat Phelps.

They were also looking for someone who would dig into the issues of the Conejo district during the year and not just be a “paper shuffler,” Phelps said.

Another plus was that Schmidt lives in Fillmore; other candidates would have had long commutes from Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Schmidt “was anxious to deal with the problems rather than put them off,” Phelps said. “We all felt he had a rapport with the board almost as soon as he sat down.”

Schmidt was hired Tuesday and began the job Wednesday. By Thursday, he was touring the district’s schools.

“It’s a very steep learning curve,” he said. “The good news is, there is a fantastic staff here. Secondly, I enjoy challenges and am fortunate to have a high energy level.”

Ventura County Supt. of Schools Chuck Weis, who worked with Schmidt when he was superintendent of the Fillmore Unified School District, called Schmidt a visionary who is dedicated to children. “I think he’ll be able to help the board become a better board during his tenure, and we know that when boards are really good, schools improve,” Weis said. “Neil will be able to help Conejo get even better.”

The district will pay Schmidt $692 a day, Phelps said.

School board members this week also approved spending about $29,000 on a search team to scour the state and nation for candidates. Phelps said she hopes to have a person chosen by July 1.

Assistant Supt. Richard Simpson had filled the superintendent’s job since Gross left. He said he hadn’t decided whether to apply for the permanent post.