Superintendent Assigns Assistant Principal To A Newly Created Job

Heimbichner would move to the school district office

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Discipline would be focus

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By Michelle Alaimo

Los Gatos High School assistant principal Craig Heimbichner could have a new title next year--one that moves him from the LGHS campus to the district office, but still allows him to work in the area of discipline.

Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District superintendent Cynthia Ranii assigned Heimbichner to the newly created position of assistant principal of school safety and alternative programs beginning next school year. Ranii said the assignment, made on May 6, is a lateral move--one that requires no board action. She called it an assignment "that best fits his skills and talents as an administrator."

Teachers at the school were notified of Heimbichner's new assignment in a letter to the staff from principal Trudy McCulloch on May 7.

Heimbichner told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times on May 10 that he had not made up his mind whether to accept the new position. "I'm pleased with the retention of salary and status," he said. "However, I've consistently maintained that if I remain in this district, I wish to remain as Dean of Discipline [at LGHS]."

If he accepts the position, he will work out of the district office serving all the students in the district and will report directly to the superintendent, board president Ron Adolphson said.

A storm of protest began several weeks ago when Heimbichner learned he might be reassigned to a teaching position, a move that would have amounted to a demotion and subsequent pay cut. Some 300 students walked out of classes on April 20 and later that night, many students and other members of the community showed up at a board meeting to make known their concerns that the popular administrator might be demoted. Many speakers blamed the new administration for failing to communicate with teachers and students.

Because the new assignment is a lateral one, Heimbichner will remain at his same assistant principal level and current salary, Ranii said. Any other change in his employment status by the superintendent would have required board action.

However, at the May 4 board meeting, Adolphson said "The board voted unanimously to voice its confidence in the superintendent to make administrative staffing assignments."

Adolphson told the Weekly-Times that the new position is one that the district has needed for some time. The position calls for working with high-risk students at both Saratoga and Los Gatos high schools.

Ranii said the district is seeking funding to start a community day school under Assembly Bill 1845, which she said would give the district other alternatives to meet the needs of the students.

Under current legislation, Ranii said the district would receive $4,374 per student who attends the day school and that funding for the new position could also come from the same grant.

Heimbichner said he is still looking around [outside the district]. "I would be foolish not to," he said. He added, "I recognize the solution as part of a creative effort on the part of Dr. Ranii, and I appreciate her good will."

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