NEW SUPERINTENDENT PICKED ESCALANTE HAS EXTENSIVE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE.Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer GLENDALE - Michael Escalante, the superintendent of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District Fullerton Joint Union High School District (FJUHSD), founded in 1893 is a school district in Orange County, California that serves a fifty-square-mile area which includes the cities of Fullerton, La Habra and Buena Park. , will succeed the retiring Jim Brown
James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor and social activist. as the head of Glendale schools, the board announced Tuesday. Escalante, 54, whose career in public education spans three decades, was approached by the district to apply for the position. His appointment, effective Feb. 1, was approved unanimously by the board Tuesday at a special meeting, culminating a six-month search. ``You start teaching a classroom in Hawthorne, and I'm not sure I could have even dreamed that in 30 years I would find myself superintendent of one of the most prestigious school districts in the state,'' Escalante said. ``My mission has always been to address the needs of kids and provide the best programs, and this for me is my ultimate opportunity.'' The Hawthorne resident began his career in 1973 as an elementary school elementary school: see school. teacher and moved on to become principal at the elementary, middle and high school levels as well as an assistant superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. . ``It is a rarity to find a superintendent who has experience at all levels of public education,'' said board member Chuck Sambar sambar: see wapiti. . ``I am very thrilled and very excited that Dr. Michael Escalante will be at the helm of the Glendale Unified School District The Glendale Unified School District is a school district based in Glendale, California, United States. The school district serves the city of Glendale, portions of the city of La Cañada and the unincorporated communities of Montrose and La Crescenta. .'' Under Escalante's leadership, the Fullerton district has passed a $68 million general obligation bond for facilities and built new school facilities and modernized existing buildings. He also reduced the district's overhead by $1.5 million annually in centralized services so funding could be directed to classrooms. The Fullerton school district enrolls approximately 15,200 students, with an annual operating budget Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. of about $100 million - both nearly half of Glendale's. Escalante said his background in school business and finance will be useful when dealing with Glendale's projected $8 million shortfall from the budget next year. ``I think that background and training will be particularly important as tough decisions are going to have to be made,'' Escalante said. The Glendale school board was also looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a new superintendent that had experience working with an ethnically and racially diverse student population - experience Escalante has from heading up schools in diverse communities. He has worked for the Palos Verdes Palos Verdes is often used to refer to a group of coastal cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the Los Angeles/South Bay area of California. This affluent bedroom community is known for its dramatic views, good schools [1] extensive horse trails [2] and Long Beach school districts, among others, and at Fullerton served communities including Brea, Buena Park Buena Park (bwā`nə), city (1990 pop. 68,784), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1953. Food processing, the manufacture of aircraft, and tourism are important to the city's economy. , La Habra and Whittier, all with large Chinese, Korean and Latino populations. ``I've worked in all kinds of different communities and they have been not only ethnically and racially diverse, but socioeconomically diverse,'' Escalante said. ``Glendale is an incredibly complex and diverse school district, and with all the preparation I've had in various administrative and teaching positions, I'll be well prepared to address challenges in the district for the next several years.'' Escalante's announcement of his departure dismayed his existing school board and teachers unions, said Glendale board member Mary Boger. ``They are outspoken in their regret in losing him,'' Boger said. ``I think this board has fulfilled our most important responsibility - we have chosen a truly outstanding superintendent who is fully capable of taking over where Jim Brown leaves off.'' Brown announced in July that he was retiring from service in public education after spending 38 years as a teacher and administrator, with 25 of those years as a superintendent of schools in four districts. Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: ESCALANTE |
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