Education 8-20

The Santa Barbara School District announced that it has finally hired an executive director to oversee the special education department. Tom Guajardo-previously a special ed director in Monterey County as well as superintendent in the Hollister and Greenfield school districts-was approved 4-0 by the School Board this week. (Member Ed Heron was absent.) Guajardo joins a new special ed-specific interim administrator and a program specialist hired earlier this month. According to Superintendent Brian Sarvis, the district is still looking to hire three or four more full-time special ed positions.