Callan takes top Palo Alto school post Callan takes top Palo Alto school post (November 16, 2001)

Leaves Pleasanton in January
by Jeb Bing

Pleasanton School Superintendent Mary Frances Callan resigned Wednesday to become Superintendent of the Palo Alto School District, effective Feb. 1.

Callan, 58, was named superintendent of Pleasanton schools three years ago, succeeding long time Superintendent Bill James, who retired. Before Pleasanton, Callan was superintendent of the Milpitas Unified School District, and earlier held key management positions at school districts in Beaverton and Eugene, Ore., Boulder, Colo., and Everett, Wash.

Callan said she was approached by Palo Alto school district and board representatives a month ago to consider the new position. She immediately notified the Pleasanton board, which authorized her to pursue the job, which she said interested her. Callan said she made her final decision Wednesday and assembled senior school district staff late in the day to make the announcement.

"This was a difficult decision because I believe both districts are among the best in the state with teachers, staff and school board members absolutely committed to students and their education," Callan said. "The difference is that there will be an even greater challenge in Palo Alto to not only keep the very high achievements it now has but to make even greater improvements."

The Pleasanton school system has just over 13,000 students compared to Palo Alto's 10,000.

As superintendent, Callan is credited with moving Pleasanton academic performance scores to record highs, opening the city's third middle school and its eighth elementary school, initiating class-size reduction in grades kindergarten through fifth and implementing the district strategic plan for academic excellence.

Her resignation followed by just a week the Pleasanton school board election. Apparently incumbent candidate Patrick Kernan, who was re-elected, was the only one of three seeking two board seats who knew of Callan's ongoing negotiations with Palo Alto.

"I had no information on this," said Gloria Fredette, who also was elected. "I'm disappointed because I had looked forward to working with her."

Bill Berck, who was Pleasanton school superintendent from 1978-1984 and the Alameda County Superintendent of Schools from 1984-1992 said it is not unusual for highly qualified school executives to move to different districts. There is a shortage of school superintendents nationwide and districts use national meetings to lure district managers to their schools.

In Callan's case, however, it was her special appreciation for Palo Alto and the university environment there that also enticed her to consider the superintendent's job. She has close ties to both Stanford University and the University of Santa Clara and has family on the Peninsula.

Pleasanton school board President Cindy McGovern said she will call a special, closed-door meeting of the school board early next week to consider the process for searching for Callan's replacement. In the meantime, the board is likely to appoint an interim superintendent, and it is also expected to agree to formally release Callan from her four-year contract that it approved just last June.

Vicky Reinke, who served on a blue ribbon committee that recommended Callan for the job four years ago, said the group consisted of parents and business and civic leaders. They interviewed five candidates and then submitted their recommendations secretly to the California School Board Association, which offers interview and selection guidance to state school districts.

McGovern said there are several similar options available to school districts and that the board will review those before starting the search.

Callan said she will start her Palo Alto work shortly, traveling between the two cities before leaving here on Jan. 31.