By Jorge Casuso

November 29, 2022 -- The School Board is expected to appoint a temporary replacement for outgoing Superintendent Ben Drati at its December 15 meeting and launch a search for a permanent successor.

The move comes after District officials were caught by surprise when the Bellflower Unified School District Board voted to hire Drati as its new superintendent on November 17.

There had been no indication Drati had been seeking to leave the District he headed for six years, officials said.

"Due to the sensitive nature of the interview process, the Board of Education did not have prior knowledge of Dr. Drati’s decision to pursue the opportunity he has chosen," Board leaders wrote in a letter to the community Tuesday.

"While we are sad to see Dr. Drati move to Bellflower USD, it is not uncommon for superintendents to serve three to five years in a school district."

At its December 15 meeting, the Board will create a sub-committee of its members "that will identify a process to hire a permanent superintendent.

"This process will be public and the opportunities for community input will be identified," wrote Board President Maria Leon-Vazquez and Vice President Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein in their letter to the community.

"The board sub-committee will bring back recommendations, and they will be presented to the full board at a future public meeting and the process will be communicated widely."

The subcommittee will work during the winter break and present an update on the search process at a Board meeting in January.

"There is no timeline yet for when a new superintendent will be named," the letter said.

"Continuity of leadership and programs is vital to our success. The Board of Education understands this and hopes the SMMUSD community also takes this under consideration as we look to identify and hire a new superintendent."

During his tenure, Drati helped steer the District through the coronavirus emergency that shut down schools and required mandated protocols when students returned to campus.

He also put in place systems that changed the district's culture and empowered teachers and principals, School Boardmember Jon Kean said ("Drati Makes Surprise Departure from School District," November 21, 2022).

Drati also presided during tense negotiations with Malibu over its efforts to split from the District and the forced closure of John Muir Elementary to repair extensive water damage.

Shortly before his announced departure, a jury awarded $45 million to two autistic students after unanimously finding they were abused with corporeal punishment by a behavioral aid ("Jury Awards Autistic Twins $45 Million in Case Against SMMUSD," October 20, 2022).