Rebecca and Mia Paley-Williams (left to right) were among some 200 supporters who greeted the school board at the March 10 meeting.

Community rallies around principal

By Michelle Alaimo

The smile on her face when she emerged from a closed-door session with the school board said it all. Lorrie Wernick, principal of C.T. English Middle School, would not lose her job after all. Earlier in the week, Loma Prieta Joint Union School District Superintendent Mary Ellen Lewis put Wernick on notice that she was recommending the board fire her.

According to Wernick, she was given no reason for the dismissal.

Wernick, who coincidentally, is a member of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board, said she first learned of the proposed action when she was called into Lewis' office on March 8. Lewis told Wernick that she had the support of the board to remove her as principal. Lewis describes the meeting as a "courtesy" to Wernick, so that Wernick would be aware of impending action.

Speaking to the Los Gatos Weekly-Times on March 9, Wernick said that Lewis told her that once the board had made it official, she would be placed on administrative leave immediately.

Wernick said she was at a loss to understand why such drastic action was being recommended. She conceded, however, that because she was technically still on her two-year probation that Lewis was within her rights under the Education Code to let Wernick go without an explanation.

When the board met March 10, the plan was for a closed session after which Wernick's termination as principal would be announced. What wasn't on the agenda, however, was a showing of parents and students--some 200 strong--demanding an explanation for the firing of the popular principal.

Word had spread quickly in the close-knit mountain community, and board members were greeted by picket signs supporting Wernick.



Lorrie Wernick shares her joy with her many supporters following a closed-door session with the school board and superintendent.




Wernick later told the Weekly-Times that in the closed session, the board decided to give the public an opportunity to speak.

The board received two petitions, one from the adults and one with more than 120 student signatures. After hearing comments from nearly 30 parents and students, the board went back into closed session with Wernick.

When they emerged again from behind closed doors, the news was good for Wernick and her supporters; Lewis had withdrawn her recommendation to fire the principal.

Board president Rick Parfitt read the following statement: "In closed session we discussed some very serious issues. Your superintendent and your board has taken into consideration everything that we bring to our job and what we have heard here tonight. As a result, we requested that our principal and superintendent work closely together. Mary Ellen Lewis, our superintendent, recommended that we take no personnel action. Lorrie Wernick will continue as our principal at C.T."

Later Lewis told the Weekly-Times she made the decision to withdraw her recommendation because "it seemed really right to me not to proceed with the personnel issue." Lewis would not comment on what had prompted her action in the first place.

John Williams, who had circulated one of the petitions, said the decision was "the closest thing to a miracle that I've seen."

Wernick agreed and said the community support was overwhelming. "I'm looking forward to working with the superintendent as a team," Wernick said. "Both of us have made a sincere effort to work together because we both love this district."

Police Report

Drawbacks of a universal remote

Obituary: Olivia Davies

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Wildcats succeed at K-Bell Invitational

LG tennis team splits two decisions

Ben Shanker pitches to LG win