News Update

Bellflower Unified hires Drati as new superintendent

Bellflower Unified’s board of education hired Ben Drati, the current superintendent of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, to take over the district’s top administrative position beginning Jan. 1, the Press-Telegram reported.

Drati replaces Tracy McSparren, whom the board placed on leave in June amid a state audit accusing the district of mishandling its finances.

Drati signed a three-year contract with the district and will earn $295,000 a year.

“I am delighted to join the Bellflower community as your next superintendent,” Drati said. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as steward over the most important job in the U.S., aside from parenting, and that is the education of our children. Where our children go is where we will go as a country and nation, so I take this responsibility with great care and I can’t wait to get started and to meet everyone.”