2 districts search for new supes 2 districts search for new supes (December 17, 2004)

The neighboring Mountain View-Whisman and Los Altos school districts have found themselves in a rare situation: Both are going through the grueling process of looking for new superintendents.

Marge Gratiot announced last spring that she would retire as Los Altos' top administrator by the end of this school year. She's been with the district for nearly 40 years. Then in August, Jim Negri, Mountain View-Whisman's superintendent for the past two years, resigned.

Both school districts have decided to hire search firms to track down top candidates for the job. However, Los Altos began its search earlier than Mountain View-Whisman, and officials at Los Altos said they expect to make a hire by the beginning of April. Mountain View-Whisman trustees said they are hoping to make a selection by late May or early June.

The Mountain View-Whisman school board is slated to pick a search firm in early January.

"I think we are both looking for excellent superintendents, and I believe we will both get them," Mountain View-Whisman board President Ellen Wheeler said.

Indeed, Victor Reid, a member of the Los Altos school board, said this is what he is hoping for, too.

Wheeler and Reid said they aren't worried about one district stealing a viable candidate from the other.

"They are two completely different school districts," Reid said.

Added Wheeler, "Los Altos has a different demographic than we do."

Mountain View-Whisman, at 4,300 pupils, has a large number of English language learners, and its standardized test scores fluctuate from school to school.

The 3,900 students at Los Altos schools routinely score highly on their state exams.

Both districts are planning to spend about $35,000 on their searches. Reid said Los Altos could spend at low as $25,000.
-- Julie O'Shea

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