Lynwood : Search for New Schools Chief to Top Board Agenda

The Lynwood Unified School District board on Tuesday is expected to make a decision on how it will go about finding a permanent replacement for former Supt. LaVoneia Steele.

Associate Supt. Audrey Clarke has served as interim superintendent since Jan. 29, when the five-member board voted 3 to 2 to spend $195,000 to buy the remainder of Steele’s three-year contract.

At the time of Clarke’s appointment, the board did not state whether she would remain in the job until a replacement for Steele is found. Instead, the board’s vote was to appoint Clarke as interim administrator until its next regular meeting, which is Feb. 13.

Board member Richard Armstrong said he hopes the majority of the board decides to keep Clarke in the position until a permanent superintendent is appointed. Armstrong said he believes the district, which has 14,500 students, should conduct a national search for a new superintendent. Armstrong said he would encourage Clarke to apply for the job.

Clarke has been with the district since 1977. She has been both an assistant principal and principal at Lynwood High School. She has been associate superintendent since 1985. Clarke has a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a master’s in educational administration from USC.