Marguerite Maze Middle School’s principal received a new assignment that started this week.
Although there’s no official confirmation there is a tie, the change comes after parents complained about the principal during public comment at several board meetings this school year.Â
Hollister School District trustees in a special meeting last week approved putting a principal on special assignment to look at operating alternative education programs within the district instead of through the county office of education.
Diane Steele, the former principal of Marguerite Maze Middle School, was selected for the approved position, Jesus Romero, the administrative assistant to the superintendent, told the Free Lance. Cindy Cordova has been selected as interim principal for Maze, Romero wrote in an email to the Free Lance. A LinkedIn page under her name mentions Cindy Cordova as a retired educator from the Hollister district.
Trustees unanimously approved the assignment to examine the programs through June 30, 2016, according to draft minutes of the meeting. The maximum cost of the decision was $85,000, according to background information in the agenda packet.
A handout provided during the meeting stipulated that a plan be created that could be implemented as early as the 2016-17 school year with reports due by mid-January and late-May of 2016.
The county office of education currently operates the Santa Ana Opportunity and Pinnacles Community schools as alternative education programs for students. During the former school year, the district transferred $229,248 in average daily attendance money to the county office to serve students participating in those programs, according to an email from Kathy Cunnane, the district’s director of fiscal services.
This project will investigate costs, possible grant funding, classroom space, hiring timelines and support needed by special education students that might participate, according to a handout shared at the meeting. The project will also work with bargaining units to resolve any possible impacts, according to the same document.
