Local News in Brief : School Superintendent in Moorpark to Resign

The superintendent of the Moorpark school district, in a surprise announcement made at a school board meeting late Tuesday, said he will resign his post next fall.

Michael R. Slater, head of the Moorpark Unified School District since 1985, said he is leaving the job to pursue a doctorate degree in education from UC Santa Barbara. His resignation is effective in October, he said.

Slater had come under fire from some community members in the past year for his support of the board’s decision to close the 69-year-old Moorpark Memorial High School as well as for delays in settling teacher contract talks.

Earlier this month, a recall drive was launched against four of the five Moorpark school board members for their support of the high school closure. A new high school is to be opened next fall.

Last week, members of the Moorpark Educators Assn., which represents most of the district’s 166 teachers, voted to approve a new two-year contract and also voted to support the board recall.

The fast-growing Moorpark district has about 4,200 students in kindergarten through the 12th grade.