BONSALL: Top educator switch is official

Felix to take over in Coronado; replacement already lined up

By TOM PFINGSTEN - Staff Writer | Thursday, June 5, 2008 5:18 PM PDT ∞

BONSALL ---- Educators announced Thursday that Jeff Felix's move to become superintendent of the Coronado Unified School District is official, after the district's board of trustees voted to approve his contract.

The job change, which takes effect July 1, will mean a $40,000 pay raise for the Escondido resident who took over as superintendent in the Bonsall Union School District less than two years ago, in October 2006.

Felix said he has enjoyed working in Bonsall, but that he's excited to be taking over command of the schools in Coronado.

"I love the people of Bonsall," said Felix, adding that his new contract calls for a $175,000-a-year salary, plus benefits. "The community has been very, very accepting of this leadership, and I feel bad about leaving the community after such a short time."

Still, the possibility of working in a bigger school district with a high school was too attractive to pass up, he said.

Just days after learning of Felix's plans last month to leave the Bonsall school district, officials here announced that should his deal go through, they would hire San Diego County Office of Education administrator Justin Cunningham as their new superintendent.

On Thursday, board member Dick Olson said the details of Cunningham's contract are still being hashed out, but added, "I hope we're going to be able to do it very soon."

Olson said the shuffle of administrators took the school board by surprise, but turned out well in the end.

"I think it was a win-win for everybody ---- Coronado got a good guy, we got a good guy, and the way the timing worked, it didn't really hurt us," he said.

School districts typically engage in lengthy superintendent searches to find the best replacement when the top official moves on, but Bonsall school board members said last month they felt that wasn't necessary because, in the words of board President Tim Coen, "(Cunningham) knows us and we know him."

While working for the county, Cunningham has helped small school districts bring their curricula up to speed, spending large amounts of time working alongside local educators.

In that capacity, he gained a thorough understanding of Bonsall and its four schools, Coen said.

Felix's resignation came as a surprise to the Bonsall school board, and officials said the tentative arrangement with Cunningham took shape when he called the district and expressed interest in the job shortly after Felix's announcement.

Felix said he turned in his formal notice of resignation ---- which will take effect later this month ---- when he got to work Thursday.

"Now that they have that resignation, they'll be able to create a contract with Dr. Cunningham, which is great, because usually boards have to get a search firm and ask the community what they want and all," he said.

Last month and Thursday, Felix offered nothing but praise for Cunningham, who he described as a curriculum and instruction expert with intimate knowledge of Bonsall through his job with the county.

"Justin was my mentor ---- he has been a counselor and mentor to almost all of the county's small school district superintendents over the last 13 or 14 years," Felix said. "I can't think of anybody better in this state to move Bonsall along than Justin."

Of his new position in Coronado, Felix said he is excited to be moving to a bigger school district, even though he will be hired during one of the toughest budget crises for school districts throughout the state.

Bonsall has about 1,900 students in three traditional campuses and one charter school, while Coronado has 3,000 students in four traditional schools ---- including a high school ---- and one charter academy.

"I took my wife, Debbie, to the board meeting (Wednesday night) and we were able to meet everyone," he said. "The people were just really warm and friendly to us."

He said Coronado school board officials presented the district's proposed budget during the board meeting on Wednesday.

"It was interesting to see that and try to wrap my head around their budget issues," said Felix. "They have the same issues we do."

Olson said he doesn't have any hard feelings about Felix's departure.

"Jeff made it clear when we hired him that he really wanted to be in a school system that has a high school," said Olson, adding that the Bonsall district's goal of unifying and establishing a high school is still "six or seven years away."

"We're not going to lose any sleep over it, and we wish Jeff all the luck in the world," he said.

Contact staff writer Tom Pfingsten at (760) 740-3516 or tpfingsten@nctimes.com.

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