Search begins in earnest for new OPUSD superintendent





By Lori Porter
Acorn Staff Writer


Leadership Associates of Mission Viejo, the firm that’s assisting Oak Park Unified School District’s School Board in recruiting the next superintendent, sent two of its partners last week to meet parents.


Dr. Harry Weinberg and Bob Sanchez were here on Wed., Feb. 26. The goal was to question parents on important qualifications for the district’s next superintendent. Marilyn Lippiatt, the former OPUSD superintendent, recently left the district to take a new position in private enterprise.


All six partners at Leadership Associates are retired superintendents with a total of 100 years of experience. The firm helps school boards find the right person for the job by advertising, background and reference checking, and by meeting with the school district’s board of education, parents and students to learn the priorities of each district


Before Weinberg and Sanchez begin their search, they conduct a final meeting to make sure they’ve listened to everyone. Last week’s session was the final meeting, in which parents voiced their requests.


"Something important to me is home independent study," said one parent. "This is my daughter’s first year in home independent study and it’s been great for her." Another parent also called for a superintendent who would support an independent study program. They hoped that home-schooled students could utilize district resources.


Another parent said she’d like a superintendent who would put more emphasis on arts programs at Oak Park High School. "The athletic department overshadows the arts," she said.


Other requests said the new superintendent should work for more support in special education. Tracking and grouping students according to their ability instead of age was labeled a strength for the new superintendent. Also called a priority was a more centralized curriculum for Oak Park’s elementary schools. This would minimize any disparity between students as they advanced to middle and high school, said some parents.


A request was made for Oak Park to close its open campuses. An up-to-date disaster and civil defense plan, with frequent drills, was also emphasized. "People think that we in Oak Park live in a bubble—and we don’t. Anything can happen here," said a parent, comparing Oak Park to Littleton, Colo. where the Columbine High School shootings occurred a few years ago.


After taking meticulous notes at the parent meeting, Leadership Associates will provide a copy to each of the boardmembers for review. After compiling all the requested qualifications, Leadership Associates will look for common themes and then create a "profile" of the optimum superintendent. By getting the details first, the company can avoid recommending the wrong person, said a spokesman. It’s easier to modify the expectations, an official said, than to change superintendents.


Weinberg and Sanchez also answered questions about salary and how a superintendent’s contract works. They sign an initial 18-month contract for about $100,000, with an annual performance review. That way—if the school board and superintendent decide to part ways after only a year—the district isn’t tied to a four-year contract and obligated to forfeit another $300,000 for a position that was held for only one year.


Regarding qualifications, a superintendent isn’t required to possess a teaching certificate. However, most superintendents have taught at one time or have been a principal. A noteworthy exception is LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer who’s never taught school. But he’s a politician, a former governor of Colorado.


"No Ph.D. is necessary either," said Weinberg. "We call a Ph.D. an artificial qualification. Just because someone holds a doctorate doesn’t mean he/she is a good leader."


While Leadership Associates pursues it search, Dr. Kenneth L. Moffett will fill in as interim superintendent until a permanent superintendent has been appointed.


The board unanimously selected Moffett, who served as a superintendent for 20 years (1976 to 1996) in both the Lennox School District and ABC School District. Moffett also served as a high school and middle school teacher, and as an assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent of secondary education.


Moffett took his position earlier this week.


Leadership Associates will conduct interviews during March and April. They expect to announce the best candidate in May. The new superintendent should start working sometime this summer.



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