By Sara Ballenger

Being in charge of the newly merged Mountain View-Whisman School District, formed July 1, has come with its share of growing pains for the Mountain View-Whisman school board, including finding a new superintendent.

“We were taking two different districts and cultures and blending them into one,” said Fran Kruss, school board president. “We were in a transition year and were looking at a variety of things. We (the board) decided to release Superintendent Patricia Bubenik.”

The unanimous decision to release Bubenik was made at the board’s Oct. 22 meeting. Bubenick was subsequently put on paid adminstrative leave Oct. 29, effective until her formal release date of Dec. 22, Kruss said. Bubenik’s contract with the district extended through 2004.

“There are 4,400 kids in this district,” Bubenik said. “I know they are doing a state and national search (for a superintendent). I hope the best for the district. I have been here for 17 years.”

Associate Superintendent Eleanor Yick has been serving as acting superintendent, until the board finds an interim superintendent. Yick was unavailable for comment at press time.

“We have begun discussing the components of the superintendent selection process,” said Kruss. “The first is to develop a communication plan. We are hearing from the public and the staff that they want to be aware of what’s going on.”

The second part of the process is choosing an interim superintendent. “We are looking for someone who has been a superintendent and an interim superintendent before,” Kruss said. “We hope to have one selected at our next meeting on Thursday.”

Once an interim superintendent is chosen, the board plans to focus the search on the permanent superintendent’s position.

“With our particular issues that we have had to deal with this year, in addition to having the opportunity of blending two cultures together, we are creating a district that you want to attract a permanent superintnendent to,” Kruss said.

Kruss thinks one of the main focuses a new superintnendent should have is unity.

“We need to make sure all of our students’ needs are being served,” Kruss said. “Same with teachers and staff. We have a lot of talent. We need to make sure that they feel valued and part of the decision-making process.”

That will include the decision of who fills the position of the new superintendent. The position could take a few weeks to a year to fill, Kruss said.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., tomorrow, in the multiuse room at Theuerkauf School,1625 San Luis Ave, Mountain View. For more information, call the district office at, 903-6900.