Following last week’s announcement of Gloria Martinez as new principal at Palisades High School, the board of governors finalized the school’s leadership team this week, hiring two educators with longstanding connections to the Palisades. Jack Sutton, who has been acting as executive director pro bono, had been hired for the post, taking on the policy and legal roles the independent charter school has assumed since separating from LAUSD a year ago. Merle Price, former PaliHi principal and head of the charter office for LAUSD, will assist the school in its charter renewal next spring and advise Martinez, who came from the Santa Monica/Malibu district, on the workings of LAUSD. Both men are Palisades residents and will work on a part-time basis, according to board chairman Jonathan Fielding, who confirmed the positions. ‘Jack will be expected to be the single point of accountability to the board,’ Fielding said. ‘He will make sure that the policies are implemented, the education reforms are proceeding at an accelerated rate, and he will be the key person in interactions with LAUSD.’ The district still owns the buildings and property and will play a role in the school’s obligation in determining the balance between the traveling students and local kids. Since PaliHi became an independent charter school, the nonprofit governing board has inherited a number of business decisions that used to be handled by the district. ‘Somehow this nonprofit has to handle the major parts of the job,’ said Sutton, who will split his time between PaliHi and his work as interim executive director of Computer-Using Educators, Inc., in Alameda, California. Both Sutton and Price are career educators, an asset in the eyes of the board. ‘The board didn’t want to bring in a business person who didn’t know education,’ Sutton said. Having recently resigned as executive officer for UCLA education outreach’a program instituted after the Regents eliminated affirmative action as a means for admission’Sutton’s career has really centered on instruction in elementary, middle and high schools. Price, who recently retired from LAUSD as deputy superintendent, served as principal at PaliHi from 1992 to 1999. With 32 years working in the schools or at the local district, Price understands how teachers and administrators can become frustrated with central officials and will act as a consultant to both Sutton and Martinez. ‘We will be a presence on campus without getting in the way of Gloria,’ Sutton said. ‘We are trying to maintain separation between the school and the nonprofit that has replaced the district.’ In a marathon meeting that lasted until midnight Monday night, the board also decided to invest in new programs in both math and English. A new position will be added in 7th period to teach math to low performing students.The school will also set up English classes throughout the regular schedule to help those students who are two grade levels below. Responding to requests from these two departments, the board is focusing on fulfilling its mission to reduce the achievement gap. ‘We will continue working with the faculty to empower them’ Fielding said.’A number of these investments are going to help, including reducing class sizes.’ The board also agreed to send a letter to parents that will explain the expectation that parents be involved. ‘We want to clarify expectations and to reach parent groups throughout the area, particularly those of traveling students,’ Fielding said. ‘We also made the decision to move ahead with our information technology. In the fall, attendance and grades will be processed electronically, and there will be e-mail communication between parents and teachers.’ With all these plans going forward and with an expected record number of students matriculating for the fall, Fielding praised the work of the board of governors, the majority of whom are non-financially interested individuals, including parents, community members and a student member. Martinez will have a non-voting seat on the board. ‘I’ve been impressed with the unstinting time our board has given to work on these issues’their level of enthusiasm, thoughtfulness of debate and resolve in terms of making progress,’ Fielding said.
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