By Diego Marcucci
Staff Writer
The Manhattan Beach Unified School Board Board of Trustees discussed at the Nov. 5 board meeting hiring a new executive director of student services after current Director Ellyn Schneider announced that she will retire at the end of December.
The director of student services focuses on special education, attendance, health and wellness and safety within the district and oversees suspensions, expulsions, parent calls and meetings and bully prevention.
In the past, MBUSD had both a director of special education and a director of student services, but due to budget reductions, the board combined the two positions seven years ago.
“Each position includes a variety of repsonsibilites that are essential to the effective operation of the district,” Schneider said.
Schneider took the position in 2004 and has been working in the district for almost 11 years and recently decided to retire from the district due to personal reasons. Prior to working at MBUSD, Schneider taught special education and adult education in Massachusetts and Illinois.
“I will miss so much about MBUSD,” Schneider said. “It has been my home for the entire time that I have lived in Manhattan Beach. I consider the district and all of its members my family and all of its students my kids.”
According to Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews, the district will begin advertising for a new executive director in February, will review candidate applications in March and select applicants to interview in April.
The district hopes to officially hire the final candidate by May. The new director of student services will begin working no later than the beginning of July.
“We are looking for a candidate who is a proven educational leader with a very strong background in the field of special education,” Executive Director of Educational Services Carolyn Seaton said.
On Wednesday, the board approved temporarily hiring Philip Cott and Susan Curtis to fill the position from January to June of the 2014-15 school year until a permanent employee is hired.
“Because of Curtis’ background in special education, she is going to be able to answer questions regarding contracts and student services,” Seaton said. “It will be nice to have somebody who can help and support our employees.”
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