Dishno will pinch-hit

Lauren Vane

Former Huntington Beach City School District Supt. Duane Dishno will

step back into his old seat until a replacement can be found after

Gary Rutherford leaves the position on Feb. 15, the Board of Trustees

decided this week.

Rutherford announced last month that he is leaving the Huntington

Beach City School District to take the position of superintendent in

the Upland Unified School District.

“He’s [Rutherford] really taken the district to new and better

heights,” said Cathy McGough, president of the board of the trustees.

“He’s really been a brilliant leader, and we’re going to miss him

greatly.”

For Rutherford, the move to Upland will be a promotion, as he will

be working in a kindergarten- through 12th-grade district.

“Really, I have a career goal of working in a unified school

district,” Rutherford said.

Though he is making a career change, Rutherford said he is not

leaving the community and plans to commute to Upland.

“I’m still going to stay very much involved,” Rutherford said.

Rutherford said he feels confident about the district being under

the temporary leadership of Dishno.

“He’s been a mentor to me during my years here in the district,”

Rutherford said.

Board members praised Dishno, calling him an “excellent choice”

with a “great deal of experience.”

“He is a perfect choice to help us through this period of

transition, losing an outstanding superintendent like Gary and

looking for another one,” McGough said.

Dishno served as district superintendent from 1991 to 2001 and has

been the president of the Huntington Beach Education Foundation for

two years.

Dishno said he looks forward to returning to the district for the

interim.

“I have a lot of my life invested in this district, and I still

live in this district, and I’m just glad to be able to help,” he

said.

McGough said Dishno would provide stability during the search.

“He gives people a feeling of good confidence and leadership, and

we need that right now,” McGough said.

The board has begun the search for a new superintendent. Following

Dishno’s retirement in 2001, the district conducted a statewide

search before deciding on Rutherford.

At the Jan. 18 meeting of the school board, Rutherford said he

will present the official contract for Dishno’s interim term. The

superintendent position is being advertised on education job websites

and also on the school district’s website. The board said the

superintendent position will be filled between March and June of this

year.

The board has received much interest about the position from

candidates both in and out of state, Rutherford said.

“This is a desirable place to live and work,” Rutherford said.

“I think the board will have a strong list of candidates from

which to chose,” Rutherford said.

School board members are asking members of the community to offer

their opinions on the characteristics they would like to see in the

new superintendent. The board can be contacted via e-mail at

[email protected] or by letter at HBCSD Board, 20451 Craimer

Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Community members are also invited

to address the trustees during the public session of the Jan. 18

board meeting at 7 p.m. at the District Education Center, 20451

Craimer Lane.