Position Title: Superintendent

Salary: Competitive and Negotiable

Closing Date: December 12, 2006

Downloads:

• Job Application
• Job Brochure

The Position

The Board of Education of the Perris Union High School District invites qualified and dedicated professional educators with strong instructional, leadership and communication skills to apply for the position of superintendent. For its next superintendent the Board is seeking an experienced, politically astute, visionary leader who possesses exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative, inclusive management style. This person will be highly visible and involved in the community, schools and district worksites and must have the ability to build strong, cooperative relationships with all stakeholders of the school system. The successful candidate must also be able to work effectively with the school board to foster a common vision and maintain a strong governance team.

The Community

 Located in one of the fastest growing areas of southern California, the 184 square mile Perris Valley is a blend of rural, suburban and rapidly developing commercial neighborhoods. The continued growth of this Riverside County community is due to its location, mild climate and affordable housing, which is attracting residents from outlying counties and states.

Educational, cultural and recreational centers are within easy driving distance. Perris is a well-known center for sky diving and hot air ballooning; nearby lakes offer water sports; and beaches, mountains and deserts are but an hour away. Higher education opportunities are provided through: the University of California, Riverside; Riverside Community College with the Norco and Moreno Valley campuses; California State University, San Bernardino; Mt. San Jacinto Community College in San Jacinto, with the Menifee campus; and California Baptist University.

Los Angeles and San Diego are accessible for cultural and other metropolitan events.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Perris Union High School District is to provide quality educational programs and meaningful opportunities which encompass the intellectual, social, emotional and physical aspects of all students within the district. These opportunities will enable them to become productive members of society.

The District

The Perris Union High School District consists of two comprehensive high schools, one continuation high school, two community day-schools, one middle school, one online grades 7-12 charter school, one 7-10 grades military institute charter school and an Extended Learning Center for Adult Education and Independent Study. The District provides education for students in grades 7-12 generated by the Perris Elementary School District and in grades 9-12 for students generated by the Menifee Union School District, Nuview Union School District and Romoland School District. Of the 9,200 7-12 students, 58% are Hispanic, 9% are African American, 29% are White and 4% are other. Seventy percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

The District’s emphasis on a well-balanced and rigorous core curriculum at all grade levels is reflected in its course offerings. Instructional programs are aligned with state and District standards. The school system structures its educational program so that all students receive instruction appropriate to their learning level. To ensure the success of every student, teachers use a variety of instructional techniques and research-based instructional materials and programs. To further enhance learning opportunities for students, a strong commitment to educational technology has been made by the District. Perris Union High School District also offers Gifted and Talented Education programs, at-risk and credit recovery opportunities and an extensive Special Education program.

Students are also encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities that promote positive attitudes, encourage achievement and aid in the prevention of behavioral problems. These activities include interscholastic athletics and a variety of clubs and programs.

The District also takes great pride in its facilities. Grounds and buildings are continually upgraded using grants and funding to provide the best resources possible for staff, students and the communities served by the school system. Fine labs, modern industrial shops and equipment, Regional Occupational Program technology, excellent libraries and media centers are available to students.

Perris Union High School District is growing. Enrollment is expected to reach 9,400 during the current school year, an increase of 500 students from the preceding year.

Projections show continued growth at a rate of approximately 6.4% for the next several years. Due to this growth, the District is in the midst of a building program that will see the opening of a new comprehensive high school in August, 2007.

Due in part to the projected growth of the area, representatives of the school district and the elementary school districts that send students to the Perris Union High School District, are discussing the merits and liabilities of possible unifications. A study is currently underway to determine the feasibility of one or more of the elementary school districts forming K-12 school districts. It is anticipated that if the study shows such unification is plausible, the earliest such reorganizations could occur would be in three to five years.

The Perris Union High School District employs 662 certificated and classified staff members. The FY 2006/07 General Fund budget is $65,000,000.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria represent standards which will be used in the evaluation of applications and in the selection of the superintendent.

Professional Experience and Preparation

• Classroom teaching experience
  
• Administrative experience, including site, district office with a secondary education component
  
• Master’s degree required, doctorate desirable
  
• Experience as a superintendent, deputy/assistant superintendent desirable

Personal Characteristics

• Honest and ethical, a person of integrity
  
• A strong communicator who is approachable, accessible, possesses exceptional listening skills and can communicate with all stakeholders
  
• Fosters openness and inclusiveness with all groups
  
• Highly visible and active in the community, schools and worksites of the district
  
• Able to make difficult decisions and possesses the courage to publicly take a stand on their recommendations
  
• Keeps the interests of children foremost in their decision-making
  
• Welcomes and honors divergent points of view while maintaining a focus on the achievement of goals and priorities

Professional Skills and Abilities

• An instructional leader skilled in working in a large, complex school district such as the Perris Union High School District
  
• Has the ability to create a district climate of collaboration and consensus building
  
• Able to build strong coalitions and partnerships with all segments of the community, including business and local governmental agencies
  
• Demonstrates an understanding, acceptance and ability to work effectively with economically and culturally diverse populations
  
• Able to maintain a systematic and varied program of communication with all stakeholders that acknowledges achievements of the district and explains challenges and needs
  
• Has the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with staff and employee associations/unions
  
• An instructional leader who can take the district to the next level of development
  
• Able to effectively work with issues associated with rapid growth, such as facilities planning and funding
  
• A strategic thinker and planner focused on the achievement of identified outcomes
  
• Has fiscal expertise that allows for the oversight of the budget, supervision of the budget development process and long-range fiscal planning
  
• Understands school district unification procedures and is able to provide guidance to the board of education about the process
  
• Able to work effectively with the school board to foster a common vision and commitment and to maintain a strong governance team
  
• Works openly with the board to ensure that its members receive all relevant information, advice and recommendations necessary to make informed decisions

Application Procedure

All applications will be held strictly confidential. Each applicant is requested to follow the procedures listed below. Those applicants wishing additional information should contact the CSBA adviser at (916) 669-3297.

Applications are to be sent to:

Perris Union High School District
c/o Dr. Bill Diedrich
California School Boards Association
3100 Beacon Blvd., Suite PERRIS
West Sacramento, CA 95691

All applications must provide the following items by the closing date, Tuesday, December 12, 2006 (5:00 p.m.) to be considered:

• A completed Application Information Form. (Please complete as instructed: do not complete by stating “see attached résumé”.) The Application Information Form and brochure may be downloaded via CSBA’s Web site at www.csba.org/es
  
• A personal letter of application stating reasons for interest in the Perris Union High School District superintendent position
  
• A résumé providing biographical background information about educational preparation, experience and achievements
  
• A placement file and/or five (5) current letters of professional references describing the applicant’s performance in previously held positions

It is the applicant’s responsibility to have placement papers or reference letters forwarded in time to meet the Tuesday, December 12, 2006 (5:00 p.m.) deadline.

Selection Procedure

A professional screening committee of respected educational leaders will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant. The board and the screening committee will use the described criteria during the screening, interviewing and final decision-making process. After receiving the report of the committee, the board will select and interview the top candidates.

The board will then select and invite candidates for the final interviews, conduct the interviews and select the superintendent. Any applicant who contacts a board member with the intent of influencing the board’s decision will be disqualified. Travel expenses for those candidates selected for the initial interview will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Salary and Contract Terms

The Perris Union High School District Board of Education will offer a multi-year contract of employment with a compensation and benefits package that is competitive and negotiable based on the individual’s experience and qualifications.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the District with employment eligibility and verification of citizenship in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Board of Education