Teachers back embattled principal
| Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 06:21 PM
Last Updated Friday, Nov 27 2009 03:29 PM
Teachers at Bessie Owens Primary School decided Wednesday to support the school's principal, who has been under fire for weeks from parents and community members for what they say is years of mistreatment.
The teachers decided 29-5 in favor of supporting Principal Anne Lopez during a private meeting at the school with Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association officials, said President Brad Barnes.
"We're happy the principal has overwhelming support of the staff as we knew she always did," said Bakersfield City School District spokesman Steve Gabbitas.
Protesters for several weeks have been calling for Lopez and secretary Vivian Herrera to be removed from the school. They started picketing after counselor Bertha Barrera was put on administrative leave in late October.
Barrera was arrested the day after based on a report made by Herrera the she was threatened. The district attorney's office declined to file charges.
Protesters then gathered 900 signatures on a petition, and hand delivered them to the Bakersfield City School District board members. They want Barrera reinstated.
The district could only authenticate 16 percent of the names as being names of parents of students, Gabbitas said.
Angela Jimenez, the grandmother of a student at the school, said the district should take into account the opinion of everyone, not just the teachers.
"I think some teachers are afraid to speak up and lose their jobs," Jimenez, one of the picketers, said. "This won't stop anything on our side. We need to get respect and consideration for our kids."
The protesters say the principal is the main culprit behind mistreatment of parents by school staff, which include teacher's aides and the school's secretary.
Third grade teacher April West said she hasn't had any problems with either of the three staff members involved.
"I've always been treated professionally by the principal, clerk and counselor," West said. "I feel the whole situation is sad."
The teacher's association will now give its report during a school board meeting Tuesday night. Eleven votes from teachers not present at Wednesday's meeting still need to be added, but that will not sway the decision, Barnes said.
"We're requesting to the board that everybody try to work things and avoid this in the future," he said. "It's in the district's hands now."
The district would not comment on what it will do about the three staff members, citing personnel matters.
