NEWHALL, SAUGUS SEEK SUPERINTENDENTS; FAST-GROWING DISTRICTS NEED LEADERS.

Byline: Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writer

The salaries might reach six figures, and, if history repeats itself, the people hired could spend a generation at the helm. Although they will serve several thousand, they each will be hired by a panel of five.

The Newhall and Saugus school districts are searching for superintendents to lead their elementary schools into the 21st century. J. Michael McGrath is stepping down from his post June 30, capping 25 years as Newhall's superintendent, while Joseph Fazio will retire as Saugus superintendent Aug. 31.

The Saugus board of education is expected to announce the district's new superintendent any day now. The school board winnowed the field of applicants and has visited the district of their top finalist - whose name hasn't been made public.

The Newhall board of education hired the California School Boards Association to conduct its search for qualified applicants. Board members hope McGrath's replacement can begin work July 1.

While the search and hiring processes have included public input, don't expect the same level of involvement as was the case in the Los Angeles Unified School District's recent quest for a leader to replace outgoing LAUSD Superintendent Sid Thompson.

A private executive search firm spent months interviewing candidates for the LAUSD job - which entails leading 900 schools attended by 650,000 students, stretched across 708 square miles. The nation's second-largest school district also held candidate forums last month, where LAUSD students, parents and teachers could quiz the finalists for the superintendent's job, which eventually went to Ruben Zacarias, an LAUSD deputy superintendent.

The Saugus and Newhall school districts don't have as pressing a need to gauge public sentiment as does LAUSD, some say - mainly because together they serve far fewer students (13,100) at far fewer schools (18) and, organizationally, have far fewer problems than does the mammoth LAUSD.

``We're set up very well financially thanks to Dr. McGrath's stewardship,'' said Newhall school board member Philip Ellis.

``You've got such a vastly different situation in the L.A. Unified School District than you have in the Saugus school district,'' added Saugus school board President Douglas Bryce.

Keith Daniel, a consultant for the California School Boards Association, is leading the search for the next Newhall superintendent. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, he said.

``We've had inquiries from all over the United States,'' Daniel said. He will help Newhall school board members sort through the applications and conduct background checks on the most promising candidates. Interviews likely will take place in early June and, once a finalist is selected, CSBA staff can help the district draw up the employment contract, he said.

Public input came at the beginning of Newhall's search process, not the end; the CSBA ``headhunters'' met with community members a few months ago to determine what qualities the next Newhall superintendent should possess.

Further, a time for public comment on the future superintendent has been part of every Newhall school board meeting agenda since the vacancy was announced, Ellis said.

``We have had zero public input'' at school board meetings, Ellis said. ``Hopefully, I attribute that to the (community's) confidence in the board to make a selection.''

Having an LAUSD-style candidates' forum for the finalists wouldn't be a good idea, Ellis said, if for no other reason than out of deference for applicant privacy. ``We have some people applying for the job who have not notified their current employers,'' he explained.

Meanwhile, Bryce said he sent out letters to every household whose children are enrolled in the Saugus Union School District, asking parents for their opinions on what kind of person the board should seek to replace Fazio.

``There wasn't a great deal of response back, but I couldn't be disappointed because that tells me that there's a great deal of satisfaction,'' Bryce said. ``If there were dissatisfaction, then we would have gotten tons of comments.''

He sent the same letter to all district teachers, principals and staff, and in response received letters back from the unions that represent district employees, Bryce said.

``The comments were: `Find someone similar to the one you've got, who will stay around a little longer,' '' a reference to Fazio's three-year tenure, Bryce said. ``They would like more continuity than we've had in previous superintendents.''

The Saugus Union School District has had five superintendents in the past decade. ``That's one of the things that we've been talking to the candidates about: Are they willing to move to the area and make a long-term commitment'' to the job, Bryce said.

A concern in both districts is steady enrollment growth. Saugus expects to open its 12th school in autumn 1998; Newhall resorted to year-round schedules a few years ago to handle its overcrowding. Schools in both districts are crowded with portable classrooms to house the influx of students.

Ellis said the next Newhall superintendent might be faced with asking voters to pass a bond measure to fund school construction.

``We have a very large (non-English speaking) population, so we'll need someone who's experienced in bilingual education,'' he added.

Fazio earns $103,000 annually and McGrath's salary is $99,715 per year. The new superintendent in each district is expected to earn salaries comparable to their predecessors, board members said.