Schools Superintendent Zimring Seeks Early Retirement

Superintendent Donald Zimring plans to accept an early retirement offer from the school district and has already worked out the details of his resignation with school officials.

Zimring's current contract with the district expires on June 30, 2012, but the Board of Education is scheduled to vote Tuesday to extend it through Aug. 1, 2012, to allow him to provide some transitional services.

He would be paid his normal salary for the extra month, according to a staff report.

Zimring, 60, said the decision to step down was made collectively with Board of Education.

"The board felt like it was a good time for leadership change, that next year we have a little more stablity than we would in the years after," he said.

Zimring spent his entire career with Las Virgenes Unified, coming on board as a teacher at Lindero Canyon Middle School in 1975. He was eventually promoted to principal, deputy superintendent and finally superintendent in July 2007.

"His leadership and his talents have certainly been instrumental in the past 36 years," said Board President Jill Gaines. "He was truly instrumental in shaping the district into the great performing district we are today."

School board member Dave Moorman shared similar sentiments, adding that Zimring would be leaving on good terms.

"We don't want anyone to think that there's been any kind of problems," he said. "This is what Don and the board mutually agreed upon."

In an email sent to district staff and Parent-Faculty Club presidents on Monday, Zimring called the school district his life's work.

"Saying that, I have never been more proud than I am today of what we collectively have accomplished for the children of our community," he wrote. "In a time when many Districts have retreated and students have suffered, we have continued to find new ways to help students learn and succeed."

In an interview, Zimring said he is just retiring from the school district and is not sure what he will pursue next.

"One of the true tests of a great organization is the fact that it can never be vested in a single person," he said, adding: "I believe this is a unique opportunity. There's a generation of leadership ready to take over."

As an early retirement incentive, Zimring is receiving two months' worth of his regular pay, according to a staff report. The district can also reimburse him for his purchase of six months of nonqualified service credit from the California State Teachers Retirement System up to a maximum cost that cannot exceed two months of his current salary.

Per his retirement agreement, Zimring will offer up to 120 hours of consulting services to the district during the 2012-13 school year at no additional cost.

Gaines said the board would begin discussing the process of finding a new superintendent in January.

The school board is also scheduled to vote Tuesday on promoting Assistant Superintendent Dan Stepenosky to deputy superintendent. Stepenosky could be a candidate to replace Zimring, Gaines said.