Administrative changes are afoot in the Gilroy Unified School
District as schools gear up for a new year.
Administrative changes are afoot in the Gilroy Unified School District as schools gear up for a new year.
The district hired former El Portal Leadership Academy Principal Graciela Valladares to serve as a full-time transition coordinator for the 110 students who will move from what was Gilroy’s only charter school to one of the districts’ multiple other high school offerings.
The Mexican American Community Service Agency – the organization that ran the school – relinquished its charter earlier this year with the hope that the school district would make the transition for the school’s students as smooth as possible. The majority of students are zoned for and will attend Gilroy High School.
“Initially, there was apprehension and sadness from the students,” said Superintendent Deborah Flores. “But what’s evolved has been a very positive reaction. I talked to some students. I think now that we’re in a really good place. They’re ready to attend a new school and know they’re going to be supported. We wanted to get the message across that we really care about this transition.”
Valladares’ hire shows the district’s commitment, Flores said. Valladares will hold the position for one year earning a salary of $85,000, according to district salary schedules – a cost that will come out of the district’s general fund but was justified by the extra money that will come to the district from the state for the extra students. The district will evaluate the need for the position as an ongoing assignment after one year, Flores said.
The district created several other positions this year, adding a second assistant principal at Ascencion Solorsano Middle School, designating a principal for the district’s adult education program and assigning an administrative position at the district office to oversee special education.
Formerly the assistant principal at South Valley Middle School, Anisha Munshi will move to Solorsano because of the school’s sheer size this year, Flores said. With almost 1,100 students, the school requires two assistant principals, Flores said.
To take her place at South Valley, the district hired Richard Lust, a program specialist at the Monterey County Office of Education. Lust worked at South Valley until a year ago when he left the district to take an administrative job in Monterey, Flores said.
“We were very sorry to see him leave so we’re thrilled to have him back in an administrative capacity,” she said.
When a visit from the state department found the district out of compliance with the requirement to have an administrator assigned specifically to adult education, the district found what it needed in Alma Quintana, a longtime Gilroy educator and former principal of Mount Madonna Continuation High School. She will take on the role of adult education principal with the hope of expanding the program even more.
Flores plans to recommend Quintana for board approval this Thursday.
“She’s perfect for the job,” Flores said. “She just loves adult ed and I know she’s going to work really hard.”
The new position will be funded by an adult literacy grant and does not impact the district’s general fund, Flores said.
Jennifer Del Bono, a district administrator who provides support services to new teachers will fill Quintana’s shoes at Mount Madonna, pending board approval. Del Bono served as principal of summer school at Gilroy High School and “did a great job,” Flores said.
Rucker Elementary School will also get a new principal this school year. Principal Barbara Keesaw will move to the district office to oversee the training of special education staff in a department that “has been understaffed for a long time,” Flores said. Like Valladares’ position, Keesaw’s will be evaluated after one year. Her position, however, will be funded for one year by a special education grant and does not impact the general fund, Flores said.
The district plans to fill the vacancy with the principal of a large elementary school in Lompoc. Pending board approval, Janet Boehme, will step in as Rucker’s principal.
