INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOLS SEATED.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

A nationally renowned administrator unanimously chosen as interim schools superintendent is expected to bring more than experienced leadership to the Simi Valley Unified School District.

Trustees said the hiring Tuesday night of Kenneth L. Moffett - a distinguished educator in residence at Pepperdine University - will help draw high-quality candidates to permanently succeed deposed schools chief Dan Flynn, who had never before worked as a superintendent.

``We went from a superintendent who was taking classes to one who is teaching the classes,'' Trustee Carla Kurachi said Wednesday. ``And I think we're going to see the difference. He's an asset. It definitely helps our district gain some of the respectability we lost.''

Details of Moffett's contract have not been finalized.

Trustees also voted to pay the California School Board Association an undetermined amount to search for a permanent superintendent. The association will continue to advise the board on developing a working relationship with the district's top administrators.

A fee for those services is being negotiated with the association, which earlier this year completed a self-evaluation with trustees.

Board President Janice DiFatta said the relationships with Moffett and the school board association bode well for the Simi Valley school district.

``All these things coming together are going to give us a good opportunity to attract a good pool of potential superintendents and keep us moving forward very positively,'' she said. ``We want a great superintendent. We deserve it in this district.''

In 1994, Moffett was named State and National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. He is expected to begin his job in four to six weeks and to serve until the new school year begins in the fall.

Kathryn Scroggin, assistant superintendent for educational services, will continue as interim leader until Moffett arrives.

Moffett, 62, did not return phone calls Wednesday.

Moffett was among three finalists interviewed for the interim post. The others were Ron Bennett, who was dismissed last week from his superintendent job with the Huntington Beach Union High School District, and Stanley Corey, a retired Irvine superintendent.

Moffett, a Manhattan Beach resident, retired as superintendent of the Lennox Elementary School District in 1996. His career also included a stint as superintendent of the ABC Unified School District in Cerritos.

Hal Vick, executive director of the Simi Educators Association, said he was pleased with Moffett's appointment, as well as the search process that included parents, teachers and administrators.

``I believe that the broader the base of the decision-making process, generally the better the decision is,'' he said. ``He has a good reputation. I think he can bring leadership and stability.''