School board names Villegas new superintendent
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Luis Villegas Jr.

Luis Villegas Jr. has been selected as superintendent of the Pleasant Valley School District.

Trustees unanimously approved a three-year contract for Villegas, who has served as the district's interim superintendent since July, at last week's board meeting.

"This has probably been the longest interview I've had," Villegas said.

When asked by trustee Sandra Berg to explain to the community why he wanted the position, Villegas said he saw significant strengths in Pleasant Valley, specifically quality personnel, a strong teaching staff and good school administrators, and wanted to continue working with them.

The district will pay Villegas an annual salary of $166,500 and another $9,600 a year for automobile and travel expenses.

Villegas, who prior to coming to the district spent five years as superintendent of the Santa Paula Elementary School District, is the second person this year to fill Pleasant Valley's top administrative spot.

The district hired Ken Moffett as interim superintendent in September 2006. Moffett was expected to complete a year at the district, but he abruptly left a month before the school year ended.

The 2006-07 school year was a turbulent one, marked by parent protests after Moffett and an advisory committee recommended the school board close three schools. Trustees closed two schools in June and left open the possibility of shutting down a third this school year.

In related news, the district recently hired Gary Mortimer as an interim assistant superintendent for fiscal services. Jan Maez held the position for six years until leaving for a similar position with a Santa Monica school district last month.

For 10 years, Mortimer was the assistant superintendent of business services for Conejo Valley Unified and Beverly Hills Unified school districts before becoming an education consultant. He holds a bachelor's degree in organizational behavior.