[KHTS] – The Hart district now has a superintendent and a superintendent-elect until Rob Challinor’s Feb. 1 retirement, according to contracts obtained by KHTS AM-1220.

Starting Nov. 1, former Deputy Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht was elevated to Superintendent-Elect Engbrecht, leaving Challinor’s responsibilities within the district to “special projects” and his title as superintendent.

Vicki Engbrecht, Superintendent-Elect

“Typically, in any superintendent hiring there is an overlap,” said William S. Hart Union High School board President Steve Sturgeon. “If we had done a search, our goal would have been to have a new person in place before Rob Challinor’s term had ended.”

As for Challinor’s role starting Nov. 1, district officials said he would be “conducting special projects including, but not limited to working on the California Voter Rights Act as we shift to trustee-area voting.”

The district also is in the midst of implementing Common Core, addressing bond funding issues and upgrading financial systems, Sturgeon said.

“We thought it would be advantageous to have a school superintendent in place who was going to be around for the whole year,” he added.

The situation puts Engbrecht in a better position to train a new assistant superintendent for education services, which is expected to be named at this week’s board meeting, Sturgeon said. There’s no plan to name a new deputy superintendent, according to school officials.

The Hart district is in the midst of a change to a district-based election, which would — in future elections — assign board members and voters to one of five divisions, which are in the process of being determined.

Challinor isn’t required to sit at the dais during Governing Board meetings for the approximately 22,000 junior high and high school student district going forward, said district spokeswoman Gail Pinsker.

Outgoing superintendent Rob Challinor

“Engbrecht will be seated at the dais as superintendent-elect beginning with the Nov. 5 board meeting,” according to an email from Pinsker. “Challinor may or may not be seated at the dais depending on the agendized items.”

The contract Engbrecht signed Oct. 1 cites her duties as “Superintendent-Elect/Superintendent” calls for a salary of $224,700 for 224 working days (225 on a leap year), and the term of the contract runs until June 30, 2016. The contract also calls for a performance review March 31, at which time Engbrecht is eligible for a raise of $10,000.

Challinor’s most recent contract, which was signed by then-board President Joe Messina and Challinor on June 19, 2013 — and set to expire in June 2016, calls for a salary of $236,700 for 224 working days.

By state law, school districts may not enter into a contract longer than four years with a superintendent.

Challinor’s contract calls for the board’s discretion in for up to a 3 percent raise assuming there is a positive performance evaluation. A California Public Records Act request for Challinor’s performance review was twice denied by district officials.

Challinor’s most recent contract called for a performance review in June. Challinor announced his retirement plan Aug. 6, with his final day slated for Jan. 31.

Engbrecht has been with the Hart district for the past 38 years as a teacher, high school principal, director of curriculum and has served in her current position of deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent of educational services for the past seven years, according to district officials.

In addition to helping to set the direction of the district during her tenure here, Engbrecht has gained valuable experience working with the board, superintendent, and site administrators on the day-to-day operational issues, gaining unique insight to the challenges of running a large school district.