Wednesday, April 28, 2010
By Zack Rosenfeld
Staff Writer
Dr. Michael Matthews was introduced to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District board as the new district superintendent in the district office on April 27.
Matthews previously served as principal at Malibu High School. After being principal at MHS for eleven years he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
“I am happy to be a part of this great district with an amazing and involved community and hope to be a large part of it,” Matthews said.
The process of choosing a new superintendent started in February 2007 when with the hiring of the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates. They conducted focus group meetings with the community to find desired characteristics for the position.
After the profile was completed, the MBUSD board decided not to hire the HYAA again due to budget constraints and instead hired former Deputy Superintendent Janet Schwabe to oversee the search and selection process.
Then, the board posted several superintendent advertisements and got applications from people all around the country.
“After we received applications we paper screened each applicant and made sure they fit the criteria that were created by the focus groups,” Schwabe said.
After the paper screening was done applicants were brought in for interviews. Then the list was narrowed down and there was a second round of interviews. Finally, after two years of searching and hard work Matthews was chosen by the board to be the next superintendent.
“He is an excellent match for our district,” MBUSD board President Ida VanderPoorte said. “His answers to our questions centered on what is good for the students.”
Current superintendent Dr. Beverly Rohrer was an intern superintendent and her contract runs up on June 30 this summer. After being superintendent for four years she decided to retire this year.
“We are so lucky to bring a great educator into our district that will respect the tradition of our schools and have the leadership to lead the district,” Rohrer said.
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