FLYNN WAITS FOR SCHOOL BOARD VOTE; CANDIDACY FUELED REACTIONS.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

Dan Flynn's day of deliverance will come Tuesday, when school trustees are expected to decide whether to hire him as Simi Valley's next school superintendent.

Although school board President Norman Walker said he can't predict what the trustees will do when they meet in closed session at 5 p.m., he noted they will review an ``exhaustive'' background and reference check on Flynn, a Thousand Oaks resident whose candidacy for the position has evoked strong reaction in the community and among school officials.

The personnel investigation was conducted by the board's attorney, Eric Bathen, who did not return phone calls Friday.

``It's entirely up to the board to decide what action to take,'' Walker said. ``But it's my feeling that we owe it to Dr. Flynn to do something or close the door on this.''

If Flynn is not hired, Walker said, trustees likely will vote on a contract with The Visionary Group, an executive search firm that was among four interviewed last month. The ``headhunters'' would recommend a slate of candidates on which the board could vote.

Flynn, coordinator of the Head Start program for the Los Angeles Office of Education, said that while he understands the need for the close scrutiny of all aspects of his life, it has been challenging.

``It puts an edge on things,'' he said. ``I'm anxious, but I've learned a lot about myself. Even in the face of adversity, I can perform at a top level and move forward in my life.

``I'm looking forward to the board's decision, which I'm certain will be in the best interests of the children.''

Flynn became the center of a controversy last month when the board decided to interview him Sept. 23 - three days before interviewing search firms.

Though trustees postponed a vote on Flynn, they were assailed by teachers and community members who demanded a broader superintendent search.

Walker said community concerns were included in the questions the board asked Bathen to answer in his background check.

``We've really covered a lot of ground. It has been as wide as I've ever seen,'' he said of the background survey. ``We can say with a great deal of confidence that every aspect of this person's life has been scrutinized.''