DISTRICT SWEETENS DEAL SALARY HIKED FOR PALMDALE SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT; INTERIM HEAD HIRED.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - To attract more experienced applicants in its second search for a new superintendent, the Palmdale School District is hiking its salary offer from more than $143,000 to between $153,000 and $160,000.

The district also appointed an interim superintendent, Jack Gyves, who will perform dual roles of top administrator and search consultant.

``His wide breadth of experience was incredibly impressive. The ability to save money is also a consideration. He will be filling two roles, the superintendent search facilitator and also interim superintendent,'' trustee Sandy Corrales said.

Gyves worked as a teacher, counselor, principal and superintendent before retiring from a school district in northern San Diego County in 1997. For 20 years, he served as superintendent in four districts, and has worked as interim superintendent in several other districts.

Gyves' most recent full-time assignment was with the Vista Unified School District in San Diego County, trustee Sheldon Epstein said.

The board voted unanimously at Tuesday's meeting to appoint Gyves.

Gyves will replace acting Superintendent Bob Rice, who is retiring Oct. 16. Rice took over the position for Superintendent Nancy Smith, who suffered a stoke in May.

The district had selected a candidate in its first search, a superintendent from a district in Salinas, but the applicant turned down the job after his district offered him more money to stay.

District officials have said the average salary of superintendents at districts of Palmdale's size is about $160,000. The district has 24 schools and more than 22,000 students.

The new recruitment brochures will advertise a salary range of between $153,000 and $160,000, depending on experience, Corrales said.

Like last time, the brochures will state that the district is looking for applicants who have at least five years' experience as superintendent or assistant superintendent. Experience in large school districts, those with 8,500 students or more, will be given added weight, Corrales said.

The search will be expanded by advertising the position in national publications, Epstein said.

``That should open the field,'' Epstein said. ``We are not going to limit ourselves in scope. We need to expand the field and see the best, qualified person out there.''

The application period will close around mid-December, and interviews will be scheduled during the second week of January.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com