Vargas comes out as top candidate for Kent schools chief

After several months of searching, the Kent School District superintendent search has narrowed to a single candidate: Dr. Edward Lee Vargas.

The board expects to make it official with a vote on the selection at the Feb. 25 bard of directors meeting, according to an e-mail sent Monday to district staff and confirmed Monday by Board President Jim Berrios.

“In looking at all the feedback and all the interviews we’ve done, we just felt Vargas was the right fit for us,” Berrios said.

Vargas, 56, is a University of Washington graduate and is presently the superintendent in residence/executive advisor of Davis Innovations, Inc. and superintendent in residence of the Stupski Foundation. Prior to that, he served as head of the 22,300-student Hacinda La Puenta Unified School District outside Los Angeles from 2001-2006.

The district also managed the second-largest adult-education program and the largest prisoner-education program that pushed its total student population to nearly 90,000.

In 2006, Vargas was named California Superintendent of the Year. He also has prior local experience with the Seattle School District.

Berrios said it was Vargas’ broader background with diversity issues that helped put him over the top.

“The important thing is finding someone who understands diversity,” Berrios said, citing a study earlier in the search in which the public and staff indicated it was their top concern for an incoming schools chief.

“This guy has a proven background,” Berrios said.

Vargas and fellow finalist Dr. Tim Mills of Colorado took part in a series of community forums Feb. 12 and Berrios said feedback on both candidates was excellent, but feedback from the public and staff indicated they felt more comfortable with Vargas’ ability to create collaborative efforts within the community.

Following the forums, board members Debbie Straus and Chris Davies visited the Hacienda La Puenta school district in Industry, Calif., to get a better sense of what Vargas might be like as a leader.

“It reaffirmed what we had heard already,” Straus said Monday of the visit.

“The resounding message we heard over and over again was how he had an absolute love and care for students,” she added.

Straus said she was particularly impressed that two years after he had left the district, those interviewed still spoke very highly of Vargas and his time there.

“You could feel how much he cared,” Strauss said.

Strauss also agreed that it was Vargas’ experience in dealing with issues of diversity that made him the top candidate.

“He has a proven track record in help improve (adequate yearly progress) in diverse districts,” she said.

While superintendent at a district in Texas, Vargas led the district to 90-90-90 status, meaning the district was one where 90 percent of students are a minority, 90 percent are eligible for free or reduced lunch and 90 percent are achieving at or above grade level.

Berrios said Vargas was notified of the impending school-board vote and planned to attend the meeting Wednesday, as well as at least one of the community workshop sessions this week regarding the district’s budget.

Vargas will officially take over in July, following the departure of current Superintendent Barbara Grohe, who last summer announced plans to retire at the end of the 2008-2009 school year.

During his meetings with the community, Vargas said he looked forward to moving to the Pacific Northwest and would be excited to work with the Kent School District, a feeling shared by members of the board.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him,” Straus said.

“I think he’s going to do some very positive things for the community,” Berrios agreed.