MURRIETA -- Citing the growth of the Murrieta school district and a priority on communication, officials announced Thursday the creation of a deputy superintendent position and, without skipping a beat, that longtime educator and administrator Buck DeWeese has been selected for the job.

Murrieta Valley Unified School District Superintendent Stan Scheer said DeWeese's primary responsibilities would be to supervise the district's 43 principals and assistant principals, and to ensure strong and timely communication among those administrators and parents and students.

Scheer also said that DeWeese, who recently led the district as interim superintendent for 10 months while trustees searched for a permanent leader, has a long and solid history with the district and will be instrumental as officials work to develop long-term plans and goals for Murrieta schools.

DeWeese is also charged with helping campuses improve their academic performances, he said.

"He has the background and experience," Scheer said.

DeWeese, 55, has worked in public education for 29 years, 16 with Murrieta. For the last eight years he has worked as assistant superintendent of human resources.

This month, DeWeese began his duties as deputy superintendent unofficially pending board approval of the post next month, he said. His starting salary will be $165,205, district officials said.

"I am pleased and honored," DeWeese said Thursday. "It will be my goal to support parents, students and staff as we work to provide an excellent education for the children of our district."

Overseeing campus administrators has traditionally been part of the job of the assistant superintendent of educational services, Scheer said. Creating the deputy post frees up time for that person to focus on the district's various academic programs and departments, he said.

Murrieta's deputy superintendent post is a first for Southwest County. No other public school district in the area has such a position.

Several districts in San Diego County do, however not all are structured the same way. Some deputy superintendents are considered "second in command" of the district, overseeing all aspects of its operations. Others oversee the educational services department and its various programs.

Scheer said Murrieta's approach is unique in that its deputy superintendent's charge is to oversee campus principals and have a strong focus on community communication and academics.

The district's four assistant superintendents, who focus on educational services, human resources, facilities and budgets, will report directly to Scheer, not DeWeese.

As part of Thursday's announcement, officials also said Patrick Kelley will replace DeWeese as assistant superintendent of human resources, a position Kelley held on an interim basis last year while DeWeese served as interim superintendent.

Kelley, 41, has been with the district for 15 years in various positions.

- Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or jkabbany@californian.com.