June 22, 2004
Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Appoints
State Administrator for Vallejo School District
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the appointment of Dr. Richard J. Damelio as state administrator of the Vallejo City Unified School District.
O'Connell selected Dr. Damelio after a thorough search.
"I was intent on finding someone who was an educator with experience running a school district and also had a strong fiscal background," O'Connell said. "But, first and foremost, my representative must be committed to strong academic achievement.
"Dr. Damelio's experience and record of success make him the ideal person for this position. He will strike the appropriate balance between maintaining focus on student achievement while ensuring the district's financial ship is righted and the taxpayers of California are repaid."
Dr. Damelio is currently the Deputy Director of the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative, where he has designed, directed, and implemented the organizations' school district reform project. For 24 years before that, Dr. Damelio served as principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of the San Mateo-Foster City School District, which serves a diverse student body similar to Vallejo's.
"In that district, Dr. Damelio exhibited leadership in balancing the budget, while restructuring education programs to improve academic achievement and greatly increase parent and staff involvement in the education of students," O'Connell said. "He has a record of working respectfully and collaboratively with the local community and elected school board, has extensive experience using data to drive important academic decisions and focus resources, and his work on strategic planning gives me confidence that he will return the district to local control fully prepared for academic and fiscal success in the future."
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction was charged with running the Vallejo City Unified School District by Senate Bill 1190, authored by Senator Wes Chesbro (D-Santa Rosa). The legislation also provided a $60 million emergency loan to the district. SB 1190 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger Monday evening.
"I also want to commend the Legislature for passing and Governor for signing a bill which will increase oversight of school districts and provide for intervention before a state bailout is necessary," O'Connell said.
"While state takeover of any school district is an action we don't take lightly, I encourage everyone to look upon this as an opportunity. I know the people of Vallejo are committed to seeing their students succeed," O'Connell said. "Dr. Damelio has the talent and experience to make it happen, and he has the full support of the California Department of Education to help the 19,800 students of Vallejo Unified in any way necessary. Together we can and will do great  things for our children."
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Below are References for Dr. Damelio:
- Jack Coyne — Board Member of the San Mateo Foster City School District. Phone: 650-573-9443
- Nancy Richardson — Former CFO of the San Mateo Foster City School District (now professor at Notre Dame). Phone: 650-520-8804
- Mike Nagler — local leader with CSEA San Mateo region. Phone: 650-579-4575
- Joanne Day — Principal at Baywood Elementary, in the San Mateo Foster City School District. Phone: 650-344-9048
- Gerry Fong — Regional CTA Executive Director. Phone: 650-558-9690
