MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – In the wake of its decision last week to release the district superintendent, the Middletown Unified School board held a special Monday evening meeting during which it decided to hire a retired superintendent to fill the job on an interim basis.

David Miller, who retired several years ago as superintendent in the Mendocino Unified School District, has been selected to fill the job while the district begins its search for a permanent successor to Superintendent Catherine Stone, according to Board President Sandy Tucker.

Stone’s four-year tenure with the district ended on Wednesday night after the board emerged from her closed session evaluation to announce they were releasing her from her contract, which runs until June, as Lake County News has reported.

Her contract requires the district to continue to pay her salary for the remainder of the term of the agreement, or for a period of 12 months, whichever period is shorter, if Stone is terminated without cause.

Stone will be paid for a year, according to her contract, Tucker said.

Tucker said the Monday evening special meeting had a 15-minute open session in addition to the hour-long closed session during which the interim superintendent’s hire was discussed.

“We were not able to vote to confirm the contract as it has to be agendized for open session,” she said.

The board has another special meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday to vote on Miller’s contract, Tucker explained.

In addition to his work in Mendocino County, Miller previously worked at Konocti Unified and Harmony Unified School District. He and his wife, Linda – who formerly worked in Middletown Unified – live in Cobb, Tucker said.

Miller is expected to begin work on either Friday or Monday, depending on how long it takes for the results of Live Scan fingerprinting to be completed, Tucker said.

While Miller fills the interim superintendent role, Tucker said the district plans to move forward immediately with recruiting Stone’s successor.

Tucker said they plan to post the job as soon as possible. The district will handle the recruitment but will have the support of the Lake County Office of Education.

After the board released Stone last week, Heather Rantala, director of business services, began overseeing district operations until the interim superintendent is in place.

On Monday, Pacific Gas and Electric said it is considering a public safety power shutoff beginning on Wednesday afternoon in response to an incoming wind event.

Tucker said that if power goes out, Rantala will make the call as to whether or not school will close.

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