Calif. newspaper looks at ‘what went wrong’ when YISD’s new superintendent led Santa Clara County schools

After bouncing out its third superintendent in seven years, the Santa Clara County Office of Education is now seeking to chart a new course and refocus on its work serving the county’s 400 public schools.

And while the departure of Xavier De La Torre, after only 21 months as Santa Clara County’s top educator, comes as a relief to many, the office’s new leaders will have to grapple with his legacy, as some services eroded or disappeared entirely, leaving schools searching elsewhere for technical and budget help.

Righting the ship is critical. Among other things, the office submits payroll taxes for most of the county’s 32 school districts, provides Internet services and, under California’s new school finance regimen, will oversee how districts spend their money and whether they’re serving their most needy students.

De La Torre has been hired as Ysleta Independent School District’s new superintendent in El Paso, Texas.

Read the full San Jose Mercury News article at http://bit.ly/1gMixVp