High school principal sacked
Turmoil
over the recent involuntary termination of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School
Principal Norm Clevenger came to a head Feb. 19, with community members and
teachers showing up in droves to express dismay over the removal of the
respected administrator.
In
a 5-0 vote, following a public hearing that lasted for nearly two hours and a
closed discussion that excluded Clevenger, the board decided not to renew
Clevenger’s one-year contract as principal and declined to consider his
reinstatement.
“I
am very disappointed about the decision,” Clevenger said.
More
than 100 people filled the hearing room and stood outdoors at the school to
witness or to testify in front of the school board. All speakers seemed to be
in support of extending Clevenger’s one-year contract as principal, which
expires in June.
Though
the board’s agenda did not include an item relating to Clevenger’s early
dismissal as the result of being placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 14,
many speakers urged the board to reinstate Clevenger and allow him to finish
his current term as principal.
The
school board is required by law to issue Clevenger notice of the expiration of
his contract by March 15. By that date, it’s up to the board to decide whether
it wants to extend the contract. Clevenger requested that the board hold a
meeting open to the public to discuss his contract renewal — an option that is
available to any administrator up for term extension.
Clevenger
kept his comments short, but stressed the significance of the community’s
involvement and unbiased decision making.
“I
ask you to keep an open mind when you go into closed session,” he said to the
board.
“Listen
to what the public has to say because they have the students’ best interest at
heart.”
The
hearing occurred nearly a week after Clevenger reportedly was escorted off
campus and had his keys, cell phone and credit cards revoked. Dr. Fred Van
Leuven, Superintendent of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District,
said the dismissal was the result of a personnel issue, which he could not
discuss. However, in a letter to Clevenger Van Leuven cited the “way” Clevenger
chose “to communicate with elected officials,” as the reason for the
disciplinary action.
“On
[Feb. 14] I had conversation with Clevenger and placed him on paid
administrative leave,” Van Leuven said in a phone interview. “He knows why he
was placed on paid leave.”
But
Clevenger said his dismissal was unwarranted and contends he doesn’t know the
particulars that resulted in his early dismissal, though he confirmed that the
“communication” Van Leuven was referring to was a conversation he had with Joe
Dugan, president of the school board, about renewing his contract.
“[It
was] about having the board look into the issue of extending my contract and
not leaving it up to the superintendent who is leaving,” Clevenger said.
According
to Clevenger, Van Leuven had previously assured him that the incoming
superintendent would decide whether to renew his contract, an assurance on
which Clevenger said he relied. But without any notice, Van Leuven changed his
mind and declined to go into detail about his reasoning, Clevenger said.
Though
Clevenger declined to comment on whether he and Van Leuven had rifts in the
past that would lead him to distrust a decision made by the superintendent
regarding his contract renewal, he said he chose to go to the board president
because he felt his choices were limited.
“Basically,
if I have a discussion with the superintendent and we have a disagreement, my
only other option is to then speak with the president of the board,” Clevenger
said. “I just wanted the board to make a fair and informed decision.”
In
a letter to Van Leuven, Clevenger questioned why he was being punished “for
having chosen to exercise [his] free speech rights,” an action he said “should
not result in retaliation.”
Nearly
20 people spoke in support of Clevenger and testified about his history as
principal and differences he’s made in their lives, either as parents, teachers
or community members.
“If
it weren’t for Norm Clevenger’s personal attention to my older daughter, she
would not have graduated,” said Bruce Porter. “I’m in the military and my kids
have been to a dozen of schools and [Clevenger] is the best principal.”
“Now
is not the time to be zig-zagging around and changing
personnel,” he added.
Susan
Walsh was angered by Clevenger’s dismissal and compared the proceeding with
what she called a “lame duck session.”
“What
we have is a lame duck superintendent,” she said.
Other
public speakers said Clevenger’s dismissal was extraordinary and untimely with
STAR and other standardized tests around the corner. Clevenger also expressed
disappointment over not being allowed to retain a lawyer before the hearing —
an action Van Leuven said was unnecessary. “I cannot go into further detail
until I get a lawyer, but I am disappointed,” he said.
Jerry Swanitz, who has been an
assistant principal for the school in the past, will be serving as interim
principal until the position is filled.