Fillmore calls, Aponik answers

Tim Willert

Former Burbank Unified Supt. David Aponik has started working for the

Fillmore Unified School District, though he apparently hasn’t

bothered to let his former bosses know he has a new job.

Fillmore Supt. Mario Contini confirmed Tuesday that Aponik, a

school psychologist for BUSD, started working July 8 as director of

personnel and risk management for the 4,000-student district in

Ventura County.

“He has superior qualifications, and he answered the interview

questions very well,” Contini said. “He has a very extensive

background in the areas that are particular to this job.”

Aponik did not return phone calls for comment Tuesday.

Burbank Unified School District Supt. Gregory Bowman said he was

unaware Aponik had accepted a job outside the district.

“He is still employed because he has not tendered a resignation,”

Bowman said. “In terms of educational employment, it is typical for a

person to resign one’s position at the time they accept another

position in another district.”

Aponik, Bowman added, is not being paid by Burbank Unified because

he is off for the summer.

In March 2000, the Burbank school board voted to terminate

Aponik’s contract as superintendent after it was learned that $1.3

million in special education expenses had not been budgeted by a

previous fiscal management team.

Aponik, who was reassigned by the board, filed a civil lawsuit

against the district in September, alleging wrongful termination and

breach of contract. Last month, he agreed to drop his lawsuit against

the district in exchange for a $56,250 payment, according to a

board-approved settlement.

Contini said Aponik’s trials with Burbank Unified had no bearing

on his hiring.

“That’s something we knew about, and we saw no relationship

between whatever issues occurred there and what our position was,” he

said.

The Fillmore school board, meanwhile, is expected to formally

approve Aponik’s hiring at the end of the month, Contini said.