District names a Fine replacement

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT-MESA -- The school district has chosen someone to replace

Assistant Supt. Mike Fine who boasts a wealth of experience dealing with

building and renovating schools.

Paul H. Reed spent 26 years with the Irvine Unified School District

overseeing a building program that was larger than Newport-Mesa Unified

School District’s plan to renovate 28 of its campuses as part of the

Measure A facilities improvement program.

Newport-Mesa Unified Supt. Robert Barbot said it was imperative to

find someone who can hit the ground running.

“This is not a learning experience here,” Barbot said. “We needed

someone to walk in and know how to work the [state] system and wanted

someone with background in the classroom.”

Reed fits both requirements, he said.

Reed said he was attracted to the Newport-Mesa position because it

meshes with his area of expertise.

“It makes it a highly desirable place for someone who has my

background and inclination,” Reed said.

The district started its search when Fine announced in March that he

was leaving for a similar position with the Riverside Unified School

District, which is closer to his home.

Barbot said finding a top-notch business official was difficult

because the job demands a specialized technical skill that is not widely

possessed. When the district started examining the applicants, Reed was

the No. 1 recommendation from everyone, Barbot said.

Reed, who grew up on Catalina Island, started as an educational

therapist and teacher, and worked his way up the ladder to his current

post as assistant superintendent for facilities, operations and planning

for the Orange Unified School District. He took that position a year and

a half ago expecting to spearhead a large development in east Orange by

the Irvine Co. But the project was significantly scaled back, leaving

Reed open to taking on new challenges.

Orange Supt. Barbara van Otterloo said in the short time Reed has been

in Orange, he helped the district focus on upgrading and improving its

facilities.

“It’s going to be a tremendous loss,” she said. “He’s just a

high-quality administrator who’s knowledgeable and knows what needs to be

done and gets it done.”

Newport-Mesa trustee Judy Franco said school board members met with

Reed during the selection process and were duly impressed.

“He understands school finance in depth, and we look forward to having

him become part of our team,” Franco said.

Reed will start in Newport-Mesa in early June.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .