Los Gatos Weekly-Times

It's how the district copes with change that matters in the end

We would like to express our disappointment with the June 18 article regarding personnel changes in the Los Gatos Union School District. It was inferred, by the headline, that Superintendent Bert Pearlman could be to blame for the moving-on of some district employees.

John Pancharian's article lacked supporting facts and a balanced response from people who work with the district and have had experience working with Dr. Pearlman. There is, we believe, broad support for the new team at the LGUSD, not the least of whom is Dr. Pearlman. We can offer that perspective.

Changes in district personnel began three years ago when the former superintendent left. Attrition is one of those inevitable occurrences when there is a change in management. Some people choose that time to make career changes they have wanted to make anyway, and some people make changes because they have grown used to previous processes and methods and choose not to adapt to the new ones.

Change can be healthy. When a district is managed by the same team for more than 12 years, changes in that team can feel overwhelming to some people. It can also be an opportunity to take a new look at our district and breathe new life and action into it. We are sorry to see any employees leave. We wish them the best in their new endeavors.

We believe, after working with Dr. Pearlman and our board of education, that the LGUSD is headed in the right direction. Our new assistant superintendent and business manager have stepped right into their positions with great support and effectiveness. After a year and a half of working without a full team, the district now has complete leadership.

We have each worked in different ways with Dr. Pearlman over the past few years. Many of us have worked with him on the difficult issues that faced our district, such as redistricting and the parcel tax. We all believe, based on our experience with Superintendent Pearlman, that despite difficult circumstances, he has focused on keeping our district intact. He worked hard on the efforts to pass the parcel tax, working with parents, staff and community.

It is true that we have had some staffing changes in the LGUSD. It is how we deal with change that marks leaders as effective. Dr. Pearlman has been forced to operate in an environment of constant change as the district righted itself following the departure of the previous administration. To his credit, he has been successful in the majority of his efforts, and we see him as an effective leader.

We urge the LGUSD community to work together in support of our superintendent and district. We express our thanks to Dr. Pearlman, for getting us though a rugged couple of years and for keeping the LGUSD on track and moving forward.

Barry Bakken
President, Los Gatos Elementary Education Foundation, 1997-98

Terry Clark
Lexington H&SC President, 1997-98

Karen Sanders Noé
Campaign Coordinator, 1998 Parcel Tax Campaign

Cathie Keirans
Van Meter Home and School Club President, 1997-98

Kim Gardner
Redistricting Committee, 1997-98

Martha Geiszler
Treasurer, Los Gatos Elementary Education Foundation, 1997-98

Jim McClenathan
Chairman, 1998 Parcel Tax Campaign

Paul and Paula Wike
1998 Parcel Tax Campaign Committee

Sue Ryan
Daves Avenue Home and School Club President, 1997-98

Penny Collishaw-Williams
Daves Avenue Home and School Club President, 1997-98

Dave Wilde
Redistricting Committee, 1997-98

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