Hollister
– With just more than a month until students return, the San
Benito High School District may hire an interim principal because
officials did not find anyone deemed qualified in the first round
of candidates.
Hollister – With just more than a month until students return, the San Benito High School District may hire an interim principal because officials did not find anyone deemed qualified in the first round of candidates.
Administrators are expanding their search for a principal while continuing efforts to fill two assistant principal openings. The lack of three of the four top administrative roles at the high school has some teachers, parents and students concerned.
Senior Class President Morgan Taylor said she worries the school will be unable to attract a strong principal candidate.
“I’m almost positive they won’t be able to find someone before the end of the summer,” she said. “We need someone who is willing to step up to the plate and make changes in the school.”
The district plans to look nationwide to replace former Principal Debbie Padilla, who announced in early June she was leaving to be principal at Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, Human Resources Director Mike Potmesil said Tuesday. Administrators will also search for recently retired principals willing to temporarily fill the role.
“We might (hire) an interim principal until we find something permanent,” Potmesil said. “It might be for a couple of months. It might be a semester.”
Of three candidates interviewed July 11 from an applicant pool of eight, none were deemed qualified by the interview panel.
The school administration had been hoping to have a successor chosen and approved by the board by July 13.
Board president Bill Tiffany said there’s concern among members about the vacant role. But he would rather hire someone to temporarily fill the position than select a candidate who does not adequately meet the school’s needs, he said.
“Both the administration and the board are committed to find the best principal possible, even if it takes a bit longer,” Tiffany said. “But we are concerned about the situation because there is a lot of work that needs to be done.”
Taylor believes many strong candidates aren’t willing to work at San Benito High School, she said.
“The root problem is, the school is too big,” Taylor said.
Potmesil acknowledged that the school’s size, at nearly 3,000 students, is one reason it’s difficult to find a strong principal.
“The principal is one of the toughest positions to fill,” he said. “It’s very demanding, particularly in Hollister, where it’s a one high school town.”
Anne Rovella, the mother of a sophomore there, said Tuesday she hopes the school can get someone capable of handling the large student body and who’s willing to stick around for longer than past administrators.
“I don’t think the kids are so much worried about it, but I think the faculty is going to be more affected,” she said.
Interviews begin Friday for the two assistant principals. Out of 22 applicants for the two positions, 10 will be interviewed.
Former Assistant Principal Linda Row announced in late June she was leaving for Sobrato High School. Former Assistant Principal Duane Morgan announced in early July he was resigning for an athletic commissioner position along the Central Coast.
