First in a series.

Surely Dave LaRose is the best organized schools superintendent west of the Azores.

A week and a half into the two-month process of searching for, interviewing and hiring a permanent principal for Culver City High School, it may be no exaggeration to say that every single day has been meticulously planned between this hour and April 28 when the chosen one is scheduled to be introduced at a School Board meeting.

Mr. LaRose wants Culver City to be first in line, to occupy a premier position, first-row aisle seat, as schools across the state scramble to find new administrators this spring. He seeks to choose a successor to Dr. Dylan Farris, who left in October, from the widest, deepest pool of candidates.

“Chance” – as in, nothing left to – has been smothered by Mr. LaRose’s remarkably intricate, and most of all inclusive, schedule.

The only known contender this far out is the favorite for the position, Dr. Lisa Cooper.

She was quickly promoted from assistant principal when Dr. Farris left to join the El Segundo School District.

“Inclusiveness” and “collaboration” have become neon watchwords during Mr. LaRose’s three-year tenure, and they are on display during his first principal search here.

The hunting process unfolded week before last “by visiting with the entire high school staff. Leslie Lockhart, our assistant superintendent for personnel, and I went out and met with the full team, staff and faculty,” he said.

“We talked about what the process would be, what the steps would be in the process, what the timeline would be, their opportunities for engagement, which includes an input exercise. We talked about teams that would be part of question-and-answer focus groups that Leslie Lockhart will facilitate so there is input from different groups.”

(To be continued)