Craig Heimbichner accepts a new position with district

By Jason Baker

Los Gatos High School assistant principal Craig Heimbichner will remain with the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District next year, district officials confirmed last week.

District superintendent Cynthia Ranii said Heimbichner has accepted the assignment as the district's assistant principal of school safety and alternative programs, effective next school year. The position moves him from the LGHS campus to the district office, but still allows him to work in the area of discipline, she said.

"This position really will allow Craig to put his talents to work. We feel good about the decision," Ranii said.

The assignment, made by administrators on May 6, is a lateral move that requires no board action. Heimbichner will remain at the same assistant principal level and current salary, she said.

Heimbichner earlier had said he had not decided whether or not to accept the new position. He stipulated that if he did remain, it would be in the field of discipline. He did not return several calls from the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.

Heimbichner now will work out of the district office, serving all the students in the district and reporting directly to the superintendent.

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 voice concerns that the popular administrator might be demoted. Many speakers blamed the new administration for failing to communicate with teachers and students.

Teachers at the school were notified of Heimbichner's new assignment in a letter to the staff from principal Trudy McCulloch on May 7. Ranii said she had yet to field any negative comments about Heimbichner's decision.

"In fact, there have been many positive comments," she said.

Officials said Heimbichner's 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, as well as exploring the district's establishing a community day school to serve at-risk youth.

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

Under current legislation, Ranii said the district would receive $4,374 per student attending the day school. Funding for Heimbichner's position also could come from the grant.

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