The Tacoma School District could have a new leader running day-to-day operations as early as January, if a plan favored by school board President Kurt Miller is adopted at the board’s meeting Thursday.
Superintendent Art Jarvis announced in June his plans to retire at the end of the 2011-12 school year next June. On Thursday, the board will consider appointing current Deputy Superintendent Carla Santorno to two consecutive posts: first as superintendent-elect (interim), beginning in January, then as interim superintendent from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.
Under the plan, Jarvis would act as the district’s advocate in Olympia early next year, during what promises to be another tough legislative session involving more state cuts to education.
Miller, Jarvis and Santorno could not be reached for comment late Friday. (Santorno spoke to a reporter on another subject earlier in the day and did not mention her possible job change.)
The district made the announcement of the board’s possible action Friday on its website.
Miller said in the district news release that appointing Santorno to the interim job would provide a transition period concurrent with Jarvis’ remaining tenure.
Board member Catherine Ushka-Hall told a reporter Friday evening that board members have not yet discussed how much the move might cost in terms of added salary for Santorno.
“It would be something negotiated, based on market values,” Ushka-Hall said.
Jarvis earned $240,000 in salary last year, not including benefits, according to state records; Santorno earned $184,009, not including benefits.
Ushka-Hall said the board needs to fully discuss the proposal on Thursday.
Miller said in the news release that the plan would “allow for continuity and continued progress, while giving the incoming board members the opportunity to evaluate Santorno’s leadership within an 18-month period.”
But two election candidates who are running for seats on the board this fall criticized Miller’s plan.
“I am baffled why the board does not want the new people coming on to have input into this process,” said Karen Vialle, a former Tacoma mayor. She said if the plan is adopted, she hopes there is a chance for Santorno’s contract to be reviewed after six months.
Scott Heinze, a business owner and chair of the Communities in Schools of Tacoma board, said a board decision next week seems rushed. He said that in the wake of the recent teachers strike, the board must work hard to instill community trust.
“Now, more than ever, transparency and public confidence has to be a priority,” said Heinze, who like Vialle is a candidate in the Nov. 8 general election.
He said that with two new board members taking their seats in December, it would “literally be a matter of waiting a few more days and you’ll have the full board that could make that decision.”
School board candidates Dexter Gordon and Kim Washington could not be reached for comment Friday.
Ushka-Hall said there is reason to act sooner.
“I am consumed now with what is going to happen (in Olympia),” she said. “The cuts last year took over our entire agenda. We still have to make progress on multiple goals while figuring out those cuts. So many things in government slow things down forever. I am a believer in getting things done.”
The process of naming a successor to Jarvis was placed on hold during the run-up to the eight-day teacher strike that ended Sept. 23.
Previously, the board had decided to search first for internal candidates. Santorno was the only applicant.
“During Carla’s tenure here, she has continually impressed me with her strategic thinking, her focus on academics and her approach to closing the achievement gap,” Miller said in the news release. He said his proposal will allow new board members to have a significant voice in evaluating Santorno’s performance over the interim period.
He said his plan will also allow the district to take advantage of Jarvis’ 47 years of experience in education and to put his knowledge to work for the district lobbying in Olympia.
Jarvis said in the news release that the plan would enable a solid transition and keep the district on course. Jarvis was hired in Tacoma first as an interim superintendent in August 2007. After a national search process in 2008, he was named to the permanent job.
Before being hired as Tacoma’s deputy superintendent in 2009, Santorno served as chief academic officer for Seattle Public Schools for three years. She had previously worked in teaching and in administration in the Denver Public Schools system.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com
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