Ousted Selma Unified superintendent to lead Central Unified

Mark Sutton, who was dismissed as Selma Unified School District superintendent earlier this year, is now superintendent at Central Unified School District.

Central Unified trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Sutton, who has more than 30 years of experience in education administration in the San Joaquin Valley. Sutton worked as a teacher and administrator at Clovis Unified for 15 years before becoming an administrator at Selma Unified, where he spent about 16 years.

He replaces superintendent Mike Berg, who is retiring after spending about a decade in administration at Central Unified.

According to Sutton’s three-year contract with Central Unified, which goes into effect Aug. 1, he will make an annual salary of $190,000 with two built-in raises. He will make more than $201,000 by 2017. The contract also includes a monthly automobile allowance of $600.

Sutton’s new contract will not interfere with the $250,000 buyout he received from Selma Unified in February, when trustees voted to terminate him despite widespread public support to keep him in charge. The Selma school board voted 3-2 to cancel Sutton’s contract and never gave a clear reason, though many blamed internal politics. The board’s action has since caused a public outcry for a recall of the board.

“I was never fired. There was no cause. I was just released from my contract,” Sutton said. “To say I was fired means there was wrongdoing of some sort and that was not the case.”

Selma Unified hired a new superintendent, Tanya Fisher, last week. Fisher comes from Santa Clara Unified School District, where she served as an assistant superintendent.

Sutton said he hopes that by going forward at Central Unified, the controversy with Selma is behind him.

“Of course it’s a worry. You never want to be associated with that, but as far as I’m concerned, when one door closes another opens. Central has opened their door and I intend to take full advantage of that,” he said. “I want to make sure people know who I am and what I stand for, and know that I’m all about the kids and will make sure I do anything I can to make sure they’re successful.”

Sutton said one of his top priorities as superintendent will be accessibility.

“That’s one of my strengths — I’m very visible. I like to be at the schools and in the classrooms. In the past, kids would know me by name and come and talk to me,” he said. “They need to know who their superintendent is and know that he supports them.”

Terry Cox, president of the Central Unified Board of Trustees, said Sutton’s past with Selma was considered, but she feels confident it does not affect his leadership skills as a superintendent — noting he had years of glowing evaluations prior to his abrupt dismissal.

“He garnered huge community support. That was evident across the board, from teachers unions and city-elected officials to parents, his demonstration of support was amazing and that’s something Central takes pride in our community,” she said. “He just fits perfectly in the the culture of Central Unified.”

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 7:35 AM with the headline "Ousted Selma Unified superintendent to lead Central Unified."