SCHOOLS GET INTERIM HEAD.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

MOORPARK - Assistant Superintendent Frank DePasquale will be interim chief of the school district when Superintendent Tom Duffy leaves March 31 to work as a lobbyist in Sacramento.

The five-member school board unanimously voted for DePasquale, the assistant superintendent of instructional and support services and the district's second in command.

School board President Greg Barker said DePasquale was the logical choice for the interim spot because of his familiarity with the 7,500-student district and because he has already been performing many of the superintendent's duties.

``I believe that the board feels that Frank is more than equal to the challenge of the superintendency during this interim period,'' Barker said. ``We are excited to have an enthusiastic and energetic candidate.''

DePasquale did not return phone calls.

DePasquale, who has expressed an interest in the permanent job, will begin April 1, Barker said. He likely will work as interim head at least until the summer, while the district conducts a nationwide search for Duffy's permanent successor.

DePasquale's salary as interim superintendent had not yet been worked out, Barker said.

DePasquale, who holds a doctorate in educational leadership from California State University, Long Beach, was appointed assistant superintendent in 1992. He previously served as principal of Flory Elementary in 1981-1987 and Campus Canyon Elementary in 1987-1992.

He was a founding member of the Moorpark Rotary and Moorpark Boys & Girls clubs. Currently, he is on the board of directors of the Rotary Club, and is chairman of International Projects.

Mayor Pat Hunter hailed the appointment of DePasquale, who is the district's liaison with the city.

``I think that Frank has been very responsive to the city's needs,'' said Hunter, whose children attend Moorpark schools.

``I think we look forward to working with him on what are going to be numerous items of mutual interest and look forward to using his guidance on the board.''

Barker said DePasquale's contract has yet to be worked out and that other administrators will likely share his workload as assistant superintendent during the search for a permanent head, which can now begin.

``Now that we've got one piece of the puzzle in place, we have to find the others and make sure they fit right,'' said Barker.

He said the board has yet to decide how to go about the search, but is considering several plans.

``It's going to be a slow, but a thorough, process. We don't feel hurried. We're taking this step by step, with a lot of consideration. We're going to make a good decision.''

Duffy, who gave oral notice in December and written notice last week, has agreed to work for some 24 days to advise the district on selecting his successor and on other matters in return for allowing him to leave before the end of the 120 days' notice required in his contract, officials said.