MODESTO -- Modesto City Schools is moving to hire principals in the next two weeks for Johansen, Davis and Elliott high schools in 2013-14 after dismissing the women who held the jobs this year.
The panel for Elliott Alternative Education site interviewed eight potential candidates Tuesday, Associate Superintendent Ginger Johnson said.
The principals were told in December they would not be coming back in the fall. In addressing teachers and parents who protested the firings, the district pledged that it would include the school communities in hiring their next leaders.
"My promise to sites was we'd have maximum involvement there," Johnson said.
Besides the added input, these hirings differ from past practice by having candidates apply for a specific campus, not just to be a principal anywhere. "It's by school. I wanted them to have that buy-in," Johnson said.
The Elliott panel was made up of acting Elliott Principal Rodney Owen, four Elliott teachers, two Elliott support staff, a principal from another site, three district administrators and a community leader.
Elliott Principal Julie Beebe was placed on paid administrative leave Jan. 29 and will be out through the end of the year, according to district records. The district has not given a reason for the action, citing privacy concerns.
At Davis High, Principal Lynne Lysko also will leave at year's end. The panel meeting Friday to consider her replacement will include eight Davis teachers, a principal from another site, one Davis parent, two support staff and six district administrators.
A 19-person panel interviewed candidates for the Johansen High job last week, Johnson said. Included on that panel were:
• Seven teachers, including the site's Modesto Teachers Association representative
• One assistant or associate principal
• The principal's secretary
• A support staff union representative
• One parent
• A principal from another school, six midlevel district administrators and a facilitator from the human resources department.
A slightly different configuration will be arranged for Franklin Elementary, where parents have rallied behind Principal Michael Brady. He, too, was notified in December that he would not be returning.
More than two dozen candidates applied for each position, with applications narrowed to eight or fewer for the panel to interview, Johnson said. Each panel narrows the field to two or three candidates to be considered by the district Cabinet, which will make the final choice.
Johnson said the Franklin decision would take place after spring break, which runs March 29 through April 5.
Bee education reporter Nan Austin can be reached at naustin@modbee.com or (209) 578-2339, on Twitter, @NanAustin, www.modbee.com/education.
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