Superintendent’s Tenure Not Extended

Dave Philips, superintendent of the Santa Paula Elementary School District for the last seven years, will not have his contract renewed when it expires in June 1997.

Trustees voted 3 to 2 at their Monday night board meeting not to extend Philips’ contract for another two years.

Philips said little about the move Tuesday.

“I am a public official and I serve at the pleasure of the Board of Education,” he said in a brief statement made through a district spokeswoman.

The board did not announce the reason for its move, although the district has wrestled with image problems and the action has been rumored for some time.

Philips was hired by the 3,600-student district in 1989 to oversee its one middle and six elementary schools. He earns about $95,000 a year.

Board President Janet Grant, along with trustees Dan Robles and Wannette Jauregui, voted not to extend Philips’ tenure. Eugene Marzec and Ben Saiz voted to retain Philips.

Jauregui declined to comment on the action Tuesday, and no other board members could be reached for comment.

It is the second time a Santa Paula school district has taken similar action this year. The high school district earlier demoted the principal and an assistant principal at Santa Paula High School and decided against renewing another top administrator’s contract.