County schools chief to take top spot in Santa Clara County
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

The Ventura County Office of Education will see a different face at the top for the first time in 15 years.

Dr. Charles Weis, who's been superintendent of schools since 1993, has been selected for the superintendent position in Santa Clara County. He will begin his new job July 1.

"I wasn't really looking for a new job," said Weis, 57, whose term in Ventura County would have ended Dec. 31, 2010. "They came after me and recruited me and convinced me that they needed what I do. . . . They made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

Weis had announced he was a candidate for the Santa Clara job on March 28.

Education leaders in the county said Weis will be missed.

"It's a wonderful thing for him, but it's a huge loss for this county," said Mario Contini, Conejo Valley Unified School District Superintendent.

Weis and Contini have known each other for 30 years, having met while both were working in Fillmore.

Contini replaced Weis as assistant superintendent of the Fillmore district in 1990, when San Fernando Valley native Weis moved on to become an assistant superintendent in the county office.

"I think he's done an outstanding job over the years that I've worked with him," said Kathryn Scroggin, superintendent of Simi Valley schools. "He's taken a very keen interest in the success of all the districts in our county. He visits our schools regularly and provides us with research and information to make sure that we're on the cutting edge of education reform. . . . Santa Clara is very fortunate to get a quality leader in education."

"I wish him the best. It's certainly well-deserved for him in many ways, and I think it's Ventura County's loss," said Stan Mantooth, associate superintendent of administrative services at the county office of education. "It's been a pleasure working with Chuck and having him as a friend for 12 years. He's been a great mentor."

The Ventura County Board of Education will discuss how to proceed in replacing the longstanding superintendent at Monday's regular meeting.

The five county trustees must make their selection by June 30, Weis' last official day in Ventura County, Mantooth said.

The new superintendent will serve the remainder of Weis' term.

Even under the constraints of the state's budget crisis- Ventura County schools could lose $83 million- Weis is looking forward to his next challenge.

Santa Clara County is the fourth-largest county in the state and has 11 more school districts and about 100,000 more students than Ventura County.

The move benefits Weis financially as well. In Santa Clara, Weis will earn $285,000 annually- in addition, he's been granted a residential housing loan of up to $1 million.

He was earning about $177,000 in Ventura County.

"I've fallen in love with the place," he said. "There's so much opportunity with Silicon Valley being the headquarters of technologybased companies. There's a real opportunity to get more forwardthinking people and futurism into the schools. . . . I think where California and America can thrive is in the idea business rather than manufacturing or other businesses. America still has the lion's share of patents, yet we don't do much in public schools about teaching innovation or creative thinking."

Over the course of his career, Weis has always tried to pay attention to the needs of students.

"He's always had his focus on the right place, which is on the kids," Mantooth said.