The district’s human resources department has put out job-opening notices to fill those spots, also holding focus groups of the schools’ staff and parents to establish a list of desirable characteristics for a new principal, said Kathy Granger, director of human resources for the district.
“We want to hear what people want and desire in a principal because that’s the main contact that the parents have with the school,” she said.
With the schools performing well, there is no need for significant changes, Granger added.
“Certainly they want someone who works well with people, who’s focused on the achievements of the students and a leader who can bring everybody together for the best of the students,” she said.
When the application deadline hits on April 18, district officials will conduct a screening process during a series of three interviews, Granger said.
The first interview is before a panel of representatives from groups in the district such as classified and certificated employees, as well as other principals, she said.
Then the applicants must go in front of a senior cabinet, comprising all the assistant superintendents in the district, she said.
The superintendent conducts a final interview, then recommends a candidate to the board of education for approval.
“Our intent is to have the names that we’ve selected to bring to the board in May so that everybody knows who the new principal is going to be before the school year ends,” she said.
District officials have received between six and eight applications and they expected even more to arrive during the current spring break, which ends Friday, Granger said.
“We recruit from throughout the state and within the district, and we’re looking for the best-qualifying people to fill those positions,” Bowman said. “Experience is very important when you’re going to be the person providing leadership for an elementary school.”
CHRIS WIEBE covers education. He may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at chris.wiebe@latimes.com.
