FLEXIBILITY KEY IN SEARCH FOR DISTRICT CHIEF LEADERS ASK FOR OPEN-MINDEDNESS.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Open-mindedness, good communication skills, and an ability to work with a diverse community are some of the attributes desired in a new superintendent for the Palmdale School District.

The person should also have experience working as an administrator and teacher in a large district, and being able to speak Spanish as well as English also would be good, according to input taken at a community forum for the superintendent search.

``It was a central theme throughout, a person that is open-minded, a person that understands the demographics of our community,'' board President Sheldon Epstein said. ``He should have good communication skills and be focused on student achievement.''

More than a half-dozen people spoke at the Tuesday forum, which took place before the regular board meeting.

Speakers included former trustees Shawny Barcelona, Tom Lackey and Fred Thompson, and Guidance Charter School executive director Kamal Al-Khatib.

``They want a person who will be visible in this community, to be a part of the community,'' interim Superintendent Roger Gallizzi said.

The district has a hired a consultant search firm, International Group Education Services, at a cost of $22,000 plus expenses not to exceed 10 percent.

About 20 people have contacted the consultant inquiring about the position. The deadline to apply is Sept. 29, Gallizzi said.

The consultant also is scheduled to meet with a district committee that includes people appointed by each of the trustees.

The five board appointees are Sue Brax, a district teacher; former Antelope Valley Union High School District trustee Calvin Robinson; Alyce Ellis, Lancaster School District's director of classified personnel; Jim Schettig, Lancaster's assistant superintendent of human resources; and high school district Superintendent David Vierra.

Palmdale is seeking to replace former Superintendent Jack Gyves, who retired at the end of June. With one year left on his contract, Gyves, 69, announced June 14 that he was retiring. He had been with Palmdale since October 2003, when he was named interim superintendent. He took the permanent post the following January.

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