Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Bert Pearlman

High turnover sparks concern among staff and parents in LGUSD

Home, School Club president asks board to 'do something'

Some blame Bert Pearlman

By John Pancharian

Following two years of administrative turnover at Los Gatos Union School District and several school sites, some parents and staff are beginning to ask why.

The announcement by Blossom Hill School principal Sue Russ that she will leave for the Los Altos School District at the end of the current school year led parents and teachers to worry that the departure was part of a pattern. Others who have left or are leaving during that two-year period include: Paige Cisewski, principal at Lexington School; Sandy Welch, vice principal at Fisher Middle School; Kay McDonald, special education director; Steve Peck, assistant superintendent and Mike Brandy, district business manager.

In their surprise over the loss of Sue Russ, some parents, including Blossom Hill Home and School Club President Kathy Bayes, have looked first at LGUSD Superintendent Bert Pearlman, who came on board two years ago.

"There is a groundswell of people who have heard these stories and are adamant that we must do something about the situation at the district and the superintendent. People can't work with him," Bayes said.

Bayes first brought her concerns to light at a recent LGUSD governing board meeting. She said her phone "rang off the hook" the day Russ announced her resignation, spurring her to ask the board to look into the recent departure of these administrators from the district.

Bayes said she also received numerous calls from parents of students in the special education program, who were worried about changes in that program the board had considered.

While it is no secret Russ and Pearlman have not always gotten along, Russ told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, "I just had another opportunity that I couldn't pass up."

Welch explained she is leaving Fisher to accept a principalship in Montana. She added that she doesn't believe the turnover at LGUSD is connected to Pearlman. "I don't think it has anything to do with an individual," she said. "A leadership change in any system can cause that."

McDonald is not actually quitting the district outright but taking a year's leave, during which time she will work in Germany, but she did say that her decision was due in part to a "change in direction and philosophy" at the district, adding "I came here to be part of a team that no longer exists."

LGUSD board president Steve Glickman said he does not believe these changes in personnel are due to Pearlman. "My sense is that there was a flare-up of concern [when Russ announced she is leaving], which is now shifting to what the future will be."

This sentiment was borne out at the June 10 LGUSD board meeting. A parent who addressed the board on the topic of turnover said he thought the reasons for Russ leaving "should be looked at," then asked questions about the process for finding another principal.

The board recently distributed copies of the executive summary of a management study prepared for the district by the Trident consulting firm. The report--intended to assess the effectiveness of the district's central management--did not attribute turnover to any one cause or individual, nor identify it as a significant problem.

One recommendation, however, was that "the superintendent should involve staff in the decision-making process, focusing on their strengths and talents."

Another recommendation: "A multidimensional approach for input into district decision-making and strategic long-range planning should be developed for parents, staff and community members."

Glickman said the board commissioned the study largely at Pearlman's request. Information about personnel matters was deleted from the copies made available to the public and the Weekly-Times.

Commenting on recent turnovers, Pearlman said, "I think there have been a lot of [personnel] changes in this district. I don't think I'm responsible for them." He did not think recent events are "unprecedented or worrisome," and added, "I regret if anyone feels rancorous about their leaving."

Pearlman added, "I think Los Gatos is a tremendous school district, but it could get even better." He said he has been developing new standards for curriculum and new curriculum in science, English and math, as well as a new assessment program for students. He also wants to upgrade the district's technological infrastructure. He admitted that he has made a lot of changes in two short years, but added, "Change comes hard, but change is necessary."

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