Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Bert Pearlman

Pearlman takes on consulting role, leaves assistant as superintendent

District denies management style affected mutual decision

He'll take special assignments

By Michelle Alaimo

The Los Gatos Union School District announced last week that Bert Pearlman is leaving "to be near his family in Southern California." Assistant Superintendent Mary Ann Park has taken on the role of acting superintendent, and Pearlman will remain with the district until his contract expires in June, LGUSD board member Steve Glickman said.

"What we have done is a little internal reshuffling," Glickman said.

An addendum was made to Pearlman's contract during a two-part closed session of the Sept. 9 board meeting, which allows Pearlman to stay on performing special assignments for the district.

According to the LGUSD press release, Pearlman "will be responsible for developing a district-wide database of test results and other assessment standards, working with the Elementary Education Foundation to develop an endowment program, defining educational specifications for classroom remodeling and construction and developing World Wide Web services for the district." He will also work with Park to ensure an orderly transition.

Pearlman said he will continue to receive his superintendent's salary of a little more than $100,000 a year. As part of a newly added addendum to his three-year contract, Pearlman must give the board at least 20 days' notice before leaving the district for another job.

Pearlman and Glickman both insist that the reshuffling is not related to criticism in the district of Pearlman's management style, which surfaced at a board meeting in the late spring and which was reported in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.

"I don't think there is a superintendent living or sitting that has not been criticized about his management style," Glickman said.

Pearlman added, "I just want to make it clear that this is something mutually agreeable between me and the board."

The announcement comes just a little more than two weeks into the school year, but Pearlman says the timing was intentional. He said that because of the number of new teachers and staff, "it was decided that I should open the school year and get them off to a smooth start."

Glickman said the board has been talking to Pearlman for a long time, trying to figure out how to make the transition a smooth one, and that having Park on board will make the process easier.

Park said she has been in the transition phase for the past few months by working closely with Pearlman and taking on more responsibility. She describes her management style as "open," and adds, "I believe that people solve problems together."

As of last week, Park has the full authority and support of the board, the district's release states, and her new title as acting superintendent became effective immediately.

It was unclear whether Park will be hired as Pearlman's permanent replacement. However, the board release states that "we did not have to look farther than the district office to find the person who has demonstrated the skills to lead our district." And Park said she would not turn down the job if it were offered to her. Glickman added that one of the things the board needs to do now is to work out the terms of her contract.

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