Editor,
I write to express both disappointment and sadness regarding the current interview process for the critically important hiring of the Laguna Beach schools superintendent. The objective would seem to warrant maximizing the efforts to align resources towards the pursuit of the youth of Laguna Beach reaching their full potential. The decision and necessary solutions are made in partnership with a headhunter firm and the elected board, who are charged with seeking the best outcome on behalf of the community that elected them and entrusted them to seek the truth.
As a parent who feels extremely fortunate to have had three children experience the wonderfully rich education offered by the Laguna Beach school system, which prepared them well for college, I feel reasonably well qualified to ask critical questions. At a time when the U.S. presidential election is in full force to seek the necessary candidate to lead both domestic and global agendas, experience and preparedness are primary requisites. So why is it that when a uniquely qualified candidate is presented, school board finds a way to discount specific experience and preparedness that would appear to serve the community’s youth in an unparalleled manner?
Joanne Culverhouse did not make the final round of selection. She has been in education for over 30 years, half served in Laguna Beach with enormous success as the principal of all three levels from elementary to the high school. Subsequently, she has worked for two years as the assistant superintendent in the 17-school Palos Verdes School District (compared to four in Laguna Beach) thereby navigating the diversity, complexities and associated scale of budget. As a consequence, it begs the question, is not Joanne Culverhouse thoroughly well prepared and appropriately qualified? So how is it that she fails to make the final interview round?
In conclusion, the anticipation is that the community will be hugely disappointed because a proven and hugely popular educator has been overlooked. While there are likely other well-qualified candidates, the particular qualifications and experience of Joanne Culverhouse make it baffling to comprehend the decision. One hopes that this decision by the school board to hire the very best superintendent, thereby ensuring the future full potential for Laguna Beach youth, is indeed a highly informed one. For Joanne Culverhouse to be overlooked would seem an obvious miss and one can only hope that the elected board are holding themselves to the same rigor and high standards they are judging the candidates.
Roger Wyett, Newport Beach
