SDUHSD Superintendent to Leave for Job in NorCal

ENCINITAS, CA: The San Dieguito Union High School District announced Tuesday that its superintendent, Rick Schmitt, is leaving for a job in another district.

Schmitt has been hired as the superintendent of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in Northern California, according to a news release.

“I am humbled and extremely grateful to have been selected to lead the SRVUSD,” Schmitt said. “I am looking forward to relocating to the Bay Area, where my wife and I started our family many years ago, and where much of our extended family currently lives.”

Schmitt has worked for SDUHSD for 13 years, three of which were as principal of Torrey Pines High School. He then spent six years as associate superintendent of educational services, followed by one year as deputy superintendent before becoming superintendent in 2013.

“I will always be grateful to the SDUHSD community for all it has done for my family, as both my children graduated from Torrey Pines High School,” Schmitt said. “I wasn’t expecting to leave, but it is a terrific opportunity.”

Located in San Ramon, SRVUSD is top performing K-12 district that serves 32,000 students in the communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo and San Ramon (including the new Dougherty Valley communities in east San Ramon), as well as a small portion of the cities of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SDUHSD serves students in seventh through 12th grade students in the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe and surrounding areas. It is composed of four high schools, five middle schools, a continuation high school and adult education.

“Mr. Schmitt has been a tremendous asset to the District and I am sad to see him go,” said SDUHSD Board of Trustees President Beth Hergesheimer. “I understand this is an amazing opportunity for Mr. Schmitt and his family, and know that he will do the same fabulous work in San Ramon as he did here at San Dieguito.

“Mr. Schmitt accomplished so much in his 13 years at the San Dieguito Union High School District, including establishing a commitment to high community visibility and partnerships, building strong relationships with staff and parents, and leading the work to continually improve student achievement while caring for the overall well-being of each student.”

Schmitt’s last day with SDUHSD will be June 30. Pending SRVUSD board approval, he is expected to start work in San Ramon on July 1.

Hergesheimer said she will work with her fellow trustees, staff and the community on finding Schmitt’s replacement.

The outgoing superintendent fielded criticism earlier this school year over a 12.5-percent pay raise for teachers that was then also given to district administrators. Combined, the salary increases, which were retroactive to July 1, 2015, were expected to cost taxpayers $5.17 million over two years.

Schmitt himself went from earning a $220,000 salary to $235,400, and was due to receive another increase July 1 to $248,347.

Schmitt said at the time that the district’s financial picture after giving the raises still provided "budget stability for San Dieguito and its taxpayers while at the same time giving its employees a raise — the last district in San Diego County by the way to give their employee groups raises [since the recession ended]."

Board Trustees John Salazar and Maureen "Mo" Muir voted against the increases. Salazar expressed concern about the fiscal impact on the district's reserves, while Muir was concerned about class sizes and programs being affected.

Photo by Maggie Avants