GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL

Newport-Mesa schools will each have a principal for opening day, even

if the principals are there on a temporary basis.

Apparently, principalships are no longer the job of choice. The

difference in salary between a topped-out teacher, pay-wise, and a

principal is not great. Yet, a principal works many more days of the

year. At the secondary level, there is always a game, play, banquet or

meeting the principal needs to attend every afternoon and evening. If you

divide salary by number of hours worked, some of the students with

part-time jobs might be making more money per hour than the principal.

Principals are in a unique position. Although we think of them as the

chief executive officer at a school, they have probably hired few of the

employees. Due to laws and contracts, they have very little power to fire

a staff member.

Although we hold them accountable for student results, they have no

control over what students are on their campus and very little say in

what will be taught or how it will be taught. Yet, the talk of throwing

out the principal if Stanford 9 tests don’t improve is growing.

The principal is expected to resolve problems between students,

teachers and parents, even though those problems could stem from their

relationships outside the classroom. They are also expected to be the

fund-raising chair for public schools, always searching for money. They

are expected to garner business partnerships for their school. They will

be expected to maintain leadership if natural disaster strikes, when the

schools will become the neighborhood disaster centers. They are to spot

trouble before it begins, and ensure that violence is not allowed on

campus, either from external forces, or an upset student or staff member.

This could explain why there are less and less candidates for

principal spots, and the average length of a principal’s stay at a school

is about five years. So, I hope you take the time to meet the new and

interim principals before you have a problem you need them to fix. Give

them your pledge of support and don’t expect miracles overnight.

***

“Kids and the Law: An A-Z Guide for Parents” has been updated to

reflect changes in laws affecting the state’s young people and is now

available on the Web.

This began as a project by the Orange County Bar Assn. support group,

and explains the laws that kids and parents need to know. It includes

tips on topics including alcohol, drugs, police, and school.

The Web site can be accessed at o7 https://www.calbar.orgf7 .

***

I recently overheard two moms of ninth-grade boys talking about the

$1,000 charge to participate in the school’s football program. This fee

had been enough to turn their sons away from football.

I’m wondering if similar fees are expected for school activities in

our district. If so, how many kids don’t participate in extracurricular

activities because of the cost? Would it be better to have a program with

fewer coaches, tournaments and extras, if more kids could be involved?

Or, is the cost justified in order to have a winning program?

I would like to hear your thoughts. Send me an e-mail.

GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL is a Costa Mesa resident. Her column runs

Tuesdays. She can be reached by e-mail at o7 [email protected]