Board picks selection panel

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board appointed its superintendent selection advisory council at Tuesday's meeting, enlisting 38 community members to choose a new district leader by June.

At the meeting, a number of local education groups ? including the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, the California School Employees Assn. and the Harbor Council Parent Teacher Assn. ? named their own representatives to the board. The district drew other names by lot, including nine parent representatives and nine local residents who don't have children in Newport-Mesa schools.

Over the next two months, the advisory council will select and interview candidates for Supt. Robert Barbot's successor. On March 6, the district expects to close the window for applications, with the board interviewing the final contenders the following month.

"I don't think it will be easy at all," said Mike Scheafer, a State Farm Insurance agent and Costa Mesa United member who was drawn by lot for the committee. "Finding the best candidate is going to be hard, but I'm sure there's lots of qualified folks who will apply."

In its initial model, the district had outlined 45 posts on the advisory council, but reduced the number by seven when some of the contacted groups did not submit candidates, according to administrative services coordinator Laura Boss.

Among the Newport-Mesa administrators appointed to the advisory council are Costa Mesa High School principal John Garcia, Eastbluff Elementary School principal Charlene Metoyer and English-learner programs director Karen Kendall. Jim Rogers, president of the teachers union, is on the council along with five teachers.

Daniel de Arakal, a senior at Orange Coast Middle College High School, was the only student named to the committee due to a lack of other applicants.

In drawing names of parents, the board sought an elementary school and a secondary school representative for each high school zone, as well as representatives for preschool and alternative education. Don Krotee, whose daughter attends Middle College High School, was selected to represent the latter group.

A worthy superintendent, Krotee said, will keep the community's interests, as well as the district's, in mind.