School district finds new superintendent without leaving Ventura County
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

While it won't be official until board members reach a final vote during their May 23 meeting, it appears that Mario Contini, current chief of schools in nearby Fillmore, will be the next superintendent of Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD).

In a preliminary vote on Monday afternoon, board members voted 4-0 to endorse Contini, superintendent of Fillmore Unified School District for the past 11 years. Trustee Mike Dunn was not present.

Departing Superintendent Robert Fraisse, who's leaving to take a position at California Lutheran University, called his likely replacement, "a gem right in our own backyard."

"He's going to be an outstanding fit for our district," said Fraisse, who said he's had a working with relationship with Contini for more than 20 years. "There is no doubt in my mind that he will be successful here."

Contini has worked in the Fillmore district for 30 years, coming up the ranks from teacher to department head to principal to assistant superintendent and finally, to his current position.

CVUSD Trustee Timothy Stephens said board members liked it that Contini had experienced education from so many angles. "We were looking for someone who came through the chairs, who had worn these different hats," Stephens said. "That way, you have a better understanding of what every person's job entails."

Ironically, Contini is a familiar face in CVUSD, but as a parent, not an administrator. Contini and his wife, Patty, have been residents of Thousand Oaks for many years. Their three children all graduated from Thousand Oaks High School.

Contini said the chance to have an impact on his own community is what drove him to apply for the job when the Ventura County Office of Education, which underwent the superintendent search, began advertising it.

"I had been contacted by different districts over the years and I had continually said no. But the fact that this job is where I live, and I had been trying to get myself more involved in the community . . . it really made sense," Contini said.

Trustees spent most of Monday in Fillmore, interviewing parents, teachers and board members, trying to determine if their initial feelings about Contini were reflected in his own district. According Stephens, the board found what it was looking for.

"One of the things that kept coming up (in Fillmore) is how incredibly hard-working Mario is. He's a 24-7 guy," Stephens said. "He was somebody who enjoyed his job and gave it 100 percent."

When asked if it was unusual that a nationwide search for what's considered a coveted position led to someone not 30 miles away, Fraisse said he wasn't surprised.

He explained that many applicants from other states simply can't afford to live in Southern California.

"In areas like our city, real estate prices tend to be so much higher than around the country . . . national searches are producing Southern California candidates," Fraisse said.

Contini's reputation probably gave him an advantage, Fraisse added.

"If you become very successful in this county, you become known to school board members and to the county superintendent, Chuck Weiss, who you work for. That is an advantage because people don't have to guess about your qualities," Fraisse said.

Fillmore Unified School District is home to seven schools and 3,800 students.

FUSD covers 572 square miles and serves Fillmore, the unincorporated community of Piru, and the surrounding unincorporated agricultural areas of the Santa Clara River Valley.