Trustees OK Terms for Superintendent

Formalizing their selection of new school Supt. Tate Parker, Simi Valley trustees have approved a 3 1/2-year contract that includes an annual salary of $108,000 plus perks.

Voting in closed session at their Tuesday meeting, trustees ratified the contract. The salary represents a raise for Parker and an increase for the Simi Valley Unified School District superintendent post.

In his current school system--Riverside County’s Murrieta Unified--the fiscally conservative, compromise-minded Parker makes $95,000 a year plus an annual retirement annuity of $8,500.

Simi Valley’s last permanent schools chief, Mary Beth Wolford, earned $102,485 a year plus medical and retirement benefits. After clashing with the school board repeatedly, Wolford left her post six months early in June. Interim Supt. Robert Purvis has filled the administrative vacancy.

To sweeten the deal for Parker, along with the usual medical and retirement benefits trustees also threw in up to $5,000 in moving expenses and a $4,000 tax-sheltered annuity each year. A single father of two adult children, Parker, 56, is expected to move to Simi Valley from San Diego by the time he begins work Jan. 2.

An educator for more than two decades, Parker holds degrees in German literature, education and administration from San Francisco State University, San Diego State University and USC. In addition to teaching elementary school, Parker has been a principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent and an education consultant.

Before starting his new job, Parker has said he will shadow Purvis to get a feel for the 18,896-student district. A strong PTA backer, Parker has vowed to begin meeting with parent groups in January.