Clevenger
saga far from over
The fight to reinstate Norm Clevenger
as Santa Ynez Valley Union High School’s principal is far from over, as the
school board and community members gear up for yet another board meeting March
11.
The Santa Ynez Valley Union High
School District School Board was prompted to place an item regarding
Clevenger’s dismissal on the March 11 board meeting agenda after it received
various letters and e-mails from concerned parents, community members and the
Faculty Association at the high school.
Clevenger was placed on paid administrative
leave and dismissed from his post as the high school’s principal by the
district’s superintendent, Dr. Fred Van Leuven, Feb. 14. He served as a
counselor and administrator at the high school for the past nine years and has
more than 30 years experience in the education field. His dismissal has caused
public outcry among parents, teachers and valley residents.
Board member Sharon Steele said the
agenda item was a direct result of receiving community requests, in particular
a request made by Bruce J. Porter, a parent of a high school student.
In a letter dated Feb. 27 and
addressed to Joe Dugan and Van Leuven, Porter invoked a section of the
California Education Code, which allows members of the public to place matters
directly related to school district business on the agenda of school districts’
governing board meetings. Porter’s agenda item, “Immediate return of Norm
Clevenger from administrative leave and reinstatement to full duties as
Principal,” will be discussed in a public meeting in which Clevenger, community
members and teachers will have the opportunity to address the board.
Porter said he sent the letter
because he felt the board neglected to address the issue of reinstating
Clevenger at the Feb. 19 board meeting.
“After hearing all of the impassioned
pleas from community members, it was clear that there was a great amount of
support for Clevenger to be principal,” Porter said. “…I thought the fair thing
to do for the kids, the school and Clevenger, was to place the item on the
board’s agenda.”
A number of e-mails have been
circulating since the board declined to extend Clevenger’s contract in a 5-0
vote on Feb. 19.
In an e-mail correspondence, the
Faculty Association called the vote “a slap in the face of the public and
faculty will,” and charged that the board “ignored” the community’s voice.
It also urged the public to write
letters to the media expressing their concern and dismay about the board’s
decision.
Some board members refute the claims
that they have “ignored” community input.
“We heard them,” said Jack Mochnick, a school board member. “I definitely disagree
with that claim. We’re here for the community.”
Clevenger said he hopes the board
will listen to the public outcry and acknowledge that his dismissal is not in
the best interest of the students, teachers or parents at SYVUHS.
“…It’s a request to have a fair
shake…,” he said. “Administrators have very little rights, if any… and if the
superintendent or the board says ‘we don’t think we want you running the school
right now,’ they could [dismiss you]. But just because they can doesn’t mean
they should.”
The superintendent and the board are
supposed to represent the interests of parents, teachers and students,
Clevenger added.
The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on
March 11, in the Old Gym at SYVUHS, 2975 East Highway 246, Santa
Ynez. The agenda item is not yet up on the school board’s Web site, but a copy
of the March 11 board meeting agenda can be requested by calling 688-6487.