Third in a series
Re “Silbiger Is Confident LaRose, in His Prime, ‘Knows What We Need to Do’”
What community members were saying about new Supt. Dave LaRose during last Tuesday evening’s informal introductory program at the School District offices:
Steve Levin, President of United Parents of Culver City: “I only have just met him for a few minutes, but he seems like a pretty straightforward guy. I am hoping there is going to be a good working relationship between the parents, students, teachers, the School Board and the whole community.”
Was there anything missing from the last administration that Mr. Levin would like to change with the new Superintendent?
“I am not sure if ‘missing’ is the right way to say it. We have gone through a little bit of a rocky patch in interaction between the parents and the District. Having a fresh person come in and start at the beginning probably could help that. Not that there was anything about Patti Jaffe (just-retired superintendent) that was hard to work with her. But we obviously had a little controversy. We have parents who are very concerned about some issues. Having somebody come in fresh probably is a good thing.”
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin, United Parents of Culver City leader: “After reading about him and meeting the new superintendent, I am excited about the possibilities he brings. I love what he said about putting the students first. That is exactly on track with what the parents I have talked to want. I am hopeful we are bringing in an outsider with fresh ideas that we have not thought of before, someone who thinks the possibilities are endless. In any business, you become set in your ways, thinking ‘this is the way things always have been done.’ I am not saying anything against the former administration, but I am look forward to fresh ideas. Patti Jaffe did a tremendous job. She always returned phone calls, went to every event. She was very involved. In that way, I hope the new superintendent is going to be similar.”
At this point in the welcoming reception, Karlo Silbiger, President of the School Board, took the floor to formally introduce Mr. LaRose.
“I know many of you want to speak one-on-one with Dave,” Mr. Silbiger said. “I don’t want to take him away from you for long. I just want to formally introduce him. Thank you all for coming right in the middle of summer. We had no idea what we were going to get on July 17.
“The Board had a really interesting challenge – to pick a superintendent who was going to come into a district I think was functioning so well and find ways to even make it better. wE are lucky to have found someone who has been a successful superintendent, a district administration. Before that he was a teacher and educator. He really has a good sense of what it means to do this work. Those of you who have met him know that he has come in and gone right to work, even though he has not officially started yet.”
Mr. LaRose: “I would like to thank the School Board for the privilege of selecting me and giving me an opportunity to join your team. This is a remarkable district. The fact that we have this size of a turnout in the summer says a lot about your investment in your community. It’s not as if there isn’t anything else to do. I also want to thank Rebecca Williams (administrative assistant). You know Rebecca. I have had a chance to meet with her – for the last 17 hours straight. She had a file for me. Getting a chance to meet, to visit, to connect with the remarkable people of this district is what it is about. We are all serving our common interest, the kids. Great people like (interim Supt.) Eileen (Carroll) as well. She had a file for me, too, that was not quite as big.
“Several of our administrators are here. In fact, we have one of our new ones. When we were introduced, I asked her what she did. She told me, and then she looked at me and said, ‘What do you do?’
“It is clear there is great leadership here and a phenomenal partnership. Now I will share my passion, and that is children. Some things I may say may come across as clichéd. But it is only clichéd if you don’t believe it. I believe emphatically in every child. It is our collective responsibility to do everything possible to make sure they are successful. They can be if we make that our top priority. The only way that can happen is if we work together. That is my belief. It takes the whole community to make that happen.”
With a nudge from Mr. Silbiger, Mr. LaRose introduced his elder daughter Lyndsi, a burgeoning actress, and recent theatre/film grad of UCLA. Because she plans to make her home here, she is the reason her now empty-nest parents sought to move to Southern California after eight years in Washington state.
Said the proud father:
“This is the person I would like to give credit to ¬ – Washington folks say blame – but I am going to say credit, my oldest daughter, Lyndsi. She was really excited when we drove Culver Boulevard and saw Sony Pictures and the Kirk Douglas Theatre. She was just performing (at the International Theatre) in Long Beach. We are proud of her, and I am excited to be 20 minutes from her.”
In a pretend aside:
“No offense, honey, but when you were 18, I was excited to be 1200 miles from you,” triggering the largest of numerous laughs.
(To be continued)
