Hollister
– San Benito High School District officials will begin
interviews today for eight applicants vying for its principal job,
while recruitment continues to fill two assistant principal
vacancies left due to resignations.
Hollister – San Benito High School District officials will begin interviews today for eight applicants vying for its principal job, while recruitment continues to fill two assistant principal vacancies left due to resignations.
San Benito’s current principal, Debbie Padilla, announced in early June that she would leave to be principal at Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. Assistant Principal Linda Row announced her departure for the same school in late June, followed by Assistant Principal Duane Morgan, who announced last week he would resign for an athletic commissioner position along the Central Coast.
The loss of three of the high school’s four head administrators has some of the teachers and staff worried.
Social studies teacher and teachers’ union lead negotiator Chuck Schallhorn said it worries him that the school has gone through four principals during his seven years and “many more” assistant principals.
“My hope is that the district administrators and school board will recognize this for what it is. It speaks to the challenges of working here,” Schallhorn said.
District Human Resource Director Mike Potmesil said he was optimistic a new administrative team could bring strength to the school.
“It’s hard when you lose that many at one time, but it’s an opportunity to get some strong people in,” he said.
The high school’s administration started its principal search in mid-June, Potmesil said. Administrators are hoping to bring a single applicant before the Board of Trustees by Friday.
The same process for the two assistant principal positions will occur with the help of the new principal. Officials are optimistic that can happen by month’s end, Potmesil said.
The search for a new principal yielded eight applicants, primarily from the greater Bay Area, Potmesil said.
“It would be nice to have a bigger pool, but I’m confident we have some strong applicants in there,” said Potmesil, noting it would be ideal to have 12 applicants for the job.
Sobrato High School had 10 applicants for its principal position after the initial screening process, said Jay Totter, assistant superintendent of human resources at Morgan Hill Unified School District.
So far, the SBHS District has received more than 20 applicants for the assistant principal positions, Potmesil said.
Schallhorn said there was division among the staff between those who are optimistic about a new administration and those who are more cynical. He hopes the school can bring in some long-term leaders.
“I’m going to do my best to see it as positive and an opportunity for growth,” he said. “Without that consistent leadership and a consistent message it’s very difficult. It’s one of the things that contributes to low morale in the high school among the staff.”
