Overview
- Dr. Robert Jaklich announced Tuesday that he will resign as interim superintendent, with his last day set for June 30 after five months leading the district.
- Jaklich earlier proposed cutting more than 500 positions, most of them vacant, freezing employee pay, and possibly seeking a voter tax-rate election to help close a roughly $35 million deficit.
- Board President Monica Ryan said trustees will meet next week to discuss options for a next interim superintendent and are expected to adopt a budget that must address the shortfall.
- The vacancy continues a string of leadership changes that began when trustees placed and later fired Superintendent Milton Fields after a board-commissioned investigation alleged financial mismanagement, safety and workplace failures.
- The district serves more than 20,000 students across about 30 campuses, and the leadership turnover and proposed cuts have already led to campus closures and could affect staffing, services and local politics while nearby districts also seek new superintendents.