Why Bother Unpacking?

School Administrator, Jan, 1998

Just five months into his contract as superintendent of the Simi Valley, Calif., Unified Schools, Tate Parker was told his services no longer were needed. The same month that The School Administrator announced his appointment to the job, a school board with two newly elected members opted to pay him $108,000 to leave.

Said one Simi Valley parent to the Ventura County Star: "Our school district could say, 'Wanted: Superintendent. Short-term position. Big bonus at the end.''