Ousted Chief, School District Look Ahead

After agreeing last week to go their separate ways, both the Simi Valley Unified School District and its ousted chief, Tate Parker, tried Monday to put their dispute behind them.

Parker will hunt for another job in education, his lawyer said Monday. And school district trustees, who placed Parker on administrative leave June 4 and accepted his resignation last week, will take up their search for Parker’s temporary replacement again Thursday.

“We wish them the best, and we trust that they wish us the best,” said Peter R. Boutin, Parker’s attorney.

Not that trustees can do otherwise. The trustees and Parker have maintained a public silence about their sudden falling-out, which came just five months after Parker started on the job. In a settlement agreement released Monday, each side agreed not to trash the other in public.

“We’re not going to be able to talk about what led to the decision [to place Parker on leave], except to say that it was in the best interests of the school district,” school board President Norm Walker said Monday.

Walker said the district may name an interim superintendent Thursday.

Parker, through his attorney, declined comment Monday.

Boutin said, however, that Parker would look for another education post. The attorney declined to say whether Parker, formerly the head of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, would specifically hunt for another job as superintendent.

“He intends to pursue other opportunities and intends to continue to contribute to public education in California,” Boutin said.

The settlement agreement, announced last week by trustees and signed Monday morning by Parker, states that Parker will continue to collect his $108,000 annual salary through Aug. 31, the day his resignation becomes effective. On or before Sept. 5, the district will pay Parker $81,000 to end his contract.

In the agreement, Parker and the district also agree not to sue each other.

Walker said he was pleased with the settlement. For two weeks after placing Parker on leave, trustees had grappled with the choice of firing Parker, which would have required them to show just cause, or buying out his contract. The latter could have cost them as much as $162,000--about 18 months of Parker’s salary.

Walker said the settlement will prevent a court fight between the district and Parker. “Any kind of litigation is expensive, even when you have a case,” he said.