Comments on: Plentiful principal replacements in Mt. Diablo district

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:58:04 +0000

Superintendent Steven Lawrence announced at the June 28, 2011 meeeting that the Valley View MS principal had resigned. The board unanimously gave Lawrence permission to appoint a new principal without its approval, along with several other administrators: http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2011/06/30/mdusd-internal-administrative-transfers-revealed/
I don’t know why the district isn’t posting information about administrative appointments on its website. However, I am trying to post information on my blog as I find out about it.

By: Nancy Gerber

Nancy Gerber — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Parents at Valley View Middle School were notified by robo-call that the principal there is leaving, and supposedly Ian Ainsworth is being appointed as an interim (our second in a year). I can’t find anything about this on the district website though. Do you know why is Valley View not on any of the lists of schools without principals? Apparently the previous principal resigned at the end of June so you’d think it would be.

By: tharrington

tharrington — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:09:29 +0000

What time is the MDE meeting?

By: Nobody

Nobody — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:02:58 +0000

Mt. Diablo Elem was scheduled a second meeting due to the last minute notice. Only about 10 people showed. So another meeting is being held tomorrow night Weds 6/30). Will be very curious if they appoint a principal for MDE on Thurs, as won’t it be pretty clear the opinions weren’t needed and they were just being patronizing?

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:22:51 +0000

Our school had a one day notice to attend a meeting to talk with MS. Lock about the needs of our school and what we wanted in a principal. I think the notice during the summer is terrible and was not able to attend because of the short notice. I think the district is making some poor decisions. If I could afford to send my chidren to private school, I would!

By: tharrington

tharrington — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:35:37 +0000

I was unable to attend the meeting and am on vacation, so I haven’t heard how the meeting went.
However, Gail Isserman, assistant superintendent for personnel, said last week that she couldn’t tell me which schools are getting new principals because she wasn’t sure which administrators had told their communities they wouldn’t be returning. The district hasn’t released a full list of schools receiving new principals.
Instead, the district appears to be releasing the information just before new principals are appointed.
I believe Gary Eberhart’s daughter attends Mt. Diablo Elementary. Paul Strange’s children attend Highlands Elementary and Sherry Whitmarsh’s children attend Oak Grove Middle School and Ygnacio Valley High.
Linda Mayo’s children attended Pleasant Hill schools, I believe. And I think Dick Allen’s children attended Concord schools.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:14:25 +0000

@Nobody and Theresa; how did the meeting go ? Did they reveal why Mt. D Elem was not on the list ? Doesn’t a Board Member have a child at the school ? Remember GE’s refusal to deny a rumor in the blog ?

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:12:35 +0000

Theresa,
I believe the decision making is being driven in this instance the same way it is driven for everything that is done in MDUSD… purely reactive. At this point that is simply a guess on my part. Until this Superintendent decides to communicate with the community we will be left to guess.
Back to my same question that I will continue to ask, how can these decisions be made without strategic planning?
As for transparency, how about some clear, honest, and regular communication.

By: Tired Parent

Tired Parent — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:39:24 +0000

Funny how Curriculum and Instruction was being eliminated, but all the people who work there landed “new” jobs in the district. What a load of crap. The district saves its own and the school sites take the brunt of the cuts.

By: Ladymar

Ladymar — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:19:25 +0000

20+ years ago, principals were assigned and reassigned as they have been this summer. With new superintendents, the process became more transparent where there was input from the school community and school staff. All school administrators in past years have received layoff notices so that is not new. We are back to the principal reshuffle game where you get a potluck principal. Many years ago, when our school was going through a difficult time with an incompetent principal, a friend of mine said, “Principals come and go, but the teachers stay put to serve their students.” I have found this to be true. We will deal with this reshuffle game as we have in the past.