Schools Chief Withdraws Bid for Post in Florida

Fresno Unified School District Supt. Santiago Wood has withdrawn his bid for a Florida school district’s top job, saying he did not want to leave any unfinished business.

“Our district is on the verge of really moving forward,” said Wood, who joined Fresno Unified in September 2000. “We are committed to seeing this process through.”

Wood, 54, who was among eight finalists for the Collier County superintendent’s job in Naples, Fla., said the Central Valley’s pollution had caused him to think about leaving. Now Wood said he has stopped taking the nine medications and shots he once used for asthma and severe allergies, and is trying herbs and acupuncture.