MUROC SCHOOL DISTRICT HIRES NEW SUPERINTENDENT; ADMINISTRATOR PROMISES TO `BE VISIBLE IN COMMUNITY'.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro / Daily News Staff Writer

After nearly four months without a permanent superintendent, Muroc Joint Unified School District trustees have hired an administrator from a one-school district in Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County.

Irene Sherman has been superintendent and principal for about three years at the 140-student, kindergarten-through-eighth grade Blochman Union Elementary School District.

``I'm dedicated to providing the best opportunity for all the children in the district,'' Sherman said in a telephone interview. ``My first goal is going to be to get to know the people of the Muroc school community, and I plan to be visible in the community and at the schools, to learn about them so I can do the best possible job.''

The Muroc board voted unanimously at a special meeting Monday to select Sherman as the new superintendent. The contract is for three years with an annual salary of $83,000.

Sherman said she will start her new job after working with the Blochman board to find a replacement for her there.

She was selected after interviews with seven finalists, board member Chuck James said.

``I felt this was a person who was interested in being part of the community, and it looked like it was a good thing for all of the district,'' James said. ``She is someone who could work with the military and nonmilitary.''

Muroc is a K-through-12 district with about 2,600 students in seven schools: four on Edwards Air Force Base, two in Boron and one in North Edwards.

Sherman replaces former Superintendent Chet Francisco, who left in May to take a similar post at the Murrieta Valley Unified School District in Riverside County.

Tony Monetti, former assistant superintendent of educational services, had served as interim superintendent until he left in August to take a job with the Capistrano Unified School District.

Since then, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Stacy Coleman has served in the interim post.

Before working at Blochman, Sherman served as director for state and federal programs, coordinator of student services, assistant principal and counselor at the 6,000-student Escondido Union High School District in San Diego County.

During her last year in Escondido, she worked on loan with the San Ysidro Elementary School District as a consultant.

She also has worked as dean of students at the Fallbrook Union High School District.

Sherman is married to a photographer and has six children, ages 21 to 30, and seven grandchildren. She holds a doctorate in educational administration from U.S. International University, a master's degree in guidance and counseling services and a bachelor's degree in comparative language and linguistics from Long Island University.