School leader placed on leave

Just two days after the swearing-in of four new trustees to the Ocean View School District board, Supt. Karen Colby was placed on administrative leave. Some felt it was a decision long overdue, others saw it as a rash move by a board that has not yet dealt with Colby.

On Tuesday, board members read a letter from Colby announcing that she would resign. Ed Sussman, a retired superintendent from the Downey Unified School District, was appointed interim superintendent.

“We have the highest faith and confidence in him,” board Trustee John Briscoe said, adding that Sussman made it clear that he is not interested in the position full-time.

“He said as soon as we find a permanent replacement, he is happy to step down,” Briscoe said.

Trustees refused to discuss the details behind Colby’s retirement, stating that district policy prevented them from publicly disclosing personnel issues.

Part of the problem may have stemmed from a request two months ago for new hires, which Colby directly ignored.

“Eight weeks ago, the board directed her to hire temporary employees and two weeks later [they followed up on her progress],” Briscoe said. “She said, ‘I’m not going to because I don’t want to.’”

According to Bertha Hollister, a retired teacher from the district, many of the staff she keeps in touch with have begun referring to the day after the decision as Black Friday.

“[She] was the only superintendent I have ever seen who would get a standing ovation from her teachers whenever she was introduced at a function,” Hollister wrote in an e-mail.

Huntington Beach City school board member Shirley Carey, although not directly connected to the events, said from a board member’s point of view she found the decision very strange.

“I don’t really understand … how a vote could be taken before the other board members had a chance to work with Ms. Colby,” Carey said. “I am concerned about how that could have happened. How did the brand-new members have enough knowledge to make that decision?”

For Briscoe, it was no mystery. The time had come for a change in leadership.

“Our problems aren’t at a site-level; we have wonderful tenure,” Briscoe said. “They are administrative and managerial, and need to be worked on to make the district better.”

Trustees had also placed assistant Supt. Michael Luker on administrative leave without disclosing why.

School board President Tracy Pellman said a retirement agreement was made with Luker.

“Parents who have called me said they were excited that the board and Supt. Colby were able to work out a mutually agreed upon happy ending,” Pellman said.

A retirement party is planned for 4:30 p.m., Dec. 21, at the district office.

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