Hart District Board Member, Arts Commissioner Announces Resignation

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Hart district board member and city arts commissioner Paul Strickland is resigning effective May 1, according to district officials.

“I wrote two letters: one was addressed to (Santa Clarita’s Director of Arts and Recreation) Rick (Gould), and one was addressed to the Los Angeles County) superintendent, and it said that I will be resigning because I’m relocating to Florida,” Strickland said.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve the community of Santa Clarita for 29 years and the Hart district for 12 years,” he added.

Strickland, who has worked in animation for several decades, will be moving for a new job. 

“I wish the Hart district and the community of Santa Clarita future success in all of its challenges and endeavors,” he said.

Strickland has long been a local advocate for the arts, according to Joe Messina, board president for the William S. Hart Union High School District.

“Paul’s presence in education will be missed. He has over 20 years of service to this community,” Messina said 

“We wish Paul well in his future endeavors,” he said. “Paul was always a strong voice for the arts, drama and music in the district. He was a great advocate for the kids.”

Strickland is also a commissioner on the city’s Arts Commission. His term expires in 2014.

Strickland’s replacement

The options for replacing Strickland are laid out by Education Code, and the board will move quickly to fill the vacancy, Messina said.

“Legally, we have to appoint — we can’t really afford to do a special election,” Messina said.

If supervisors approve the Hart district’s request to move the election, that seat will be filled by an interim appointment for the next 18 months. Otherwise, it will be filled in November’s election.

An appointment would need to be made because the district can’t afford to leave the seat vacant for the next six months, he said.

A special election could cost the district approximately a quarter-million dollars, according to district officials.

The Hart district’s governing board oversees approximately 23,000 junior high and high school students.

Strickland has been on the William S. Hart Union High School District since 2001. He was on the Sulphur Springs School District board for four years before joining the Hart District.

Strickland has also been board president of the city’s Arts Commission, and has been on the board since its inception in 2008.

According to the city’s website:
A 27-year Santa Clarita resident, married with 3 wonderful children. Stage performances include: Annie, Cabaret, Laramie Project, and Moon over Buffalo. Children’s television Producer/Director with over 30 years animation experience including: Smurfs, Jetsons, Pac Man, Pup Named Scooby Doo, Flintstone Kids, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Shelly Duvall’s Bedtime Stories, and Steven Spielberg’s Tiny Toon Adventures. Over 100 animated shows listed on Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Past employee of Hanna Barbera Productions, Warner Brothers Animation, Universal Cartoon Studios, Saban Entertainment, Fox Family and ABC Family (Disney), and current elected Hart District President, KHTS host, Signal columnist, and senior loan officer. Other committees/positions include 3-term Past President and 8-year member of Santa Clarita’s Arts Advisory Committee, Executive Board of Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists, Co-chairman of Hart District Committee on Diversity, Member of SCV Open Space Committee, Santa Clarita Cemex Executive Advisory Committee, and 2nd VP of SCV Republican Assembly.

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