Eureka City Schools hires new EHS principal

So the new superintendent from out of the area, Greg Hawk, has hired his second & third major employees. Sad thing is, all three of those hires are people from out of the area. The first hire was a disaster. I guess he thinks the local people are just a bunch of yokels.

More people from out of the area, when the district has numerous qualified people within it's own house...again. Another slap for the dedicated employees of ECS, another look at the broken machine of ECS administration and the stupidity of the school board. No wonder people are leaving in droves....Loyalty is huge in this area, and is repaid with loyalty. How many board members are up for re-election in Nov? When is Halks term up? Let replace them as well.

Hawkeye wrote:

So the new superintendent from out of the area, Greg Hawk, has hired his second & third major employees. Sad thing is, all three of those hires are people from out of the area. The first hire was a disaster. I guess he thinks the local people are just a bunch of yokels.

Well said. I think you're right. They must think their employees are a bunch of yokels....Also, with the additional budget cuts, why did they even replace these positions? There were enough people to fill them from within. Time for ECS to be taken over by Humb. Co. Oh wait, Humb. Co. doesn't want the problem child.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ................. sure glad I don't have any kids in that mess.

Local mom business owner wrote:

More people from out of the area, when the district has numerous qualified people within it's own house...again. Another slap for the dedicated employees of ECS, another look at the broken machine of ECS administration and the stupidity of the school board. No wonder people are leaving in droves....Loyalty is huge in this area, and is repaid with loyalty. How many board members are up for re-election in Nov? When is Halks term up? Let replace them as well.

Word going around is that the board was not unanimous in these two new hires. I am not sure if it was one or two that supported local folks. Let's wait to see.

Local mom business owner wrote:

More people from out of the area, when the district has numerous qualified people within it's own house...again. Another slap for the dedicated employees of ECS, another look at the broken machine of ECS administration and the stupidity of the school board. No wonder people are leaving in droves....Loyalty is huge in this area, and is repaid with loyalty. How many board members are up for re-election in Nov? When is Halks term up? Let replace them as well.

The district does not have qualified people in its employ now. Going to HSU and getting an admin cert does not qualify you by any means. It gives you certification, but not qualification.

The district is in this mess because of the loyalty of the "boys" who are not qualified. Tough decisions need to be made and feelings are going to get hurt. A total make over is in order and none of the locals have the experience to achieve this goal. They have the certification, but not the experience which means qualification.

A complete re-organization of the district is in order. Hopefully this can happen, changes can be made and in a year or two the district can get its positive reputation back.

Business owner as well wrote:

<quoted text>
The district does not have qualified people in its employ now. Going to HSU and getting an admin cert does not qualify you by any means. It gives you certification, but not qualification.
The district is in this mess because of the loyalty of the "boys" who are not qualified. Tough decisions need to be made and feelings are going to get hurt. A total make over is in order and none of the locals have the experience to achieve this goal. They have the certification, but not the experience which means qualification.
A complete re-organization of the district is in order. Hopefully this can happen, changes can be made and in a year or two the district can get its positive reputation back.

That's awfully insulting to everybody working for Eureka Schools and to HSU as well. Yet things have been going down hill since the current superintendent was hired & he is from out of the area.

Jeff E wrote:

<quoted text>
That's awfully insulting to everybody working for Eureka Schools and to HSU as well. Yet things have been going down hill since the current superintendent was hired & he is from out of the area.

I was not trying to downgrade the education received at HSU, rather trying to emphasize the importance of solid experience. Being an administrator trained by other mediocre administrators is not the answer. A person with a proven track record is the answer even if ECS has to pay them a premium. I know it goes against the grain to pay someone in the public sector a premium salary, but in times like these maybe a little different approach is the answer. Doing the status quo is definately not. Hiring a 2-year PE teacher from Blue Lake to be a principal at your top elementary school is just one example of the lack of leadership.

I have to agree to a point that HSU's admin. credentail program doesn't necessarily produce the best of administrative potential, however I do feel a lot of how a person evolves into the position is what they do in the position. The part that I disagree with is the major budget cuts that are going to occur again will take away from the students again. Kids can't be taught when there are no resources to teach with, no choice for classes and classes that are too big to get help in. Do you think now is the time to hire someone at a "premium" salary? Does ECS really need more principals and administrators? The answer is NO!!! EHS is at one of the lowest student populations it has been at in years. Why then, does it still need 4 principals? Why couldn't ECS and the school board have eliminated positions and moved existing people around.(There are 2 principals who are completely qualified to run that school, one being Ms. Moore the other being Ms. Pucillo). The assistant superintendent position also could have been easily eliminated as no-one knew what the guy did in the position anyway. Every time we'd ask, we were told by numerouse employees of ECS "I don't really know". Start carving from the the top first, then work down. Stop taking away from the students, look at what is going on in the offices, and work from there. I hope the new guys can breath some life back into the system, I just think the timing is completely wrong.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,......... sure glad I don't have any kids in that mess.

I like to read dumb statements about dumb admin people.
Good luck EH.

Business owner as well wrote:

<quoted text>
I was not trying to downgrade the education received at HSU, rather trying to emphasize the importance of solid experience. Being an administrator trained by other mediocre administrators is not the answer. A person with a proven track record is the answer even if ECS has to pay them a premium. I know it goes against the grain to pay someone in the public sector a premium salary, but in times like these maybe a little different approach is the answer. Doing the status quo is definately not. Hiring a 2-year PE teacher from Blue Lake to be a principal at your top elementary school is just one example of the lack of leadership.

Mr. Business,

I thought you were clueless after your first post, but now I'm sure.

The new principal at EHS is coming from a small middle school in Willits. Worked at a HS before that, but his enrollment is going to be about 4 times what he has been used to. Big time experience? His first year will be getting introduced to his stakeholders. That's it. How is that going to help??

The new guy at the District is from Gilroy. He will be removed from students for the most part and concentrating on working on all of the testing and federal crap the school is overburdened with. It is a full time job, nobody outside of education knows what it is. But the state and feds want their info and he might work out.

The elementary school principals are all excellent with tons of experience. The middle school probably has the brightest and most talented principal of all.

The problem is the High School. The last principal they hired was an absolute disaster. Completely and totally screwed up. They had an excellent principal, but when he wouldn't go along with Haulk's stupid ideas, and when Haulk kept shooting down every good idea he had, he was forced out. Haulk will lie to your face. It's not all Haulk's fault. When he actually does come up with a good idea, the school board gets 1 complaint from a nut job parent and the whole thing comes crashing down.
But the high school did just get a 6 year accreditation, which tells me the teachers are hanging in there despite the chaos in management.

The HSU credential program has been run by our former County Ed Boss who was one of the most distinguished educators in California, Louie Bucher. He's just retired and left the job in the hands of another superb educator. Check your facts before you bash this excellent program.

If you were in business, you would know that to succeed, you hire qualified people, train and mentor them and promote from within. Hire outside and you don't know what you are getting. They hired a guy at Zane a couple of years ago, he about got his dumb butt killed on the jetty and he went back south.

We need a new board. But we got what we voted for now didn't we?

If they had filled the new positions from within, it would have rewarded the people keeping this mess afloat. And it would have got some new blood in at the admin entry level to secure the future. Now we have Haulk, who will be out of here, and two new guys we don't know and will be stuck with for at least 3 years.

Well, Arcata High made the top 1500 schools list in Newsweek last week. If you are disgusted at EHS, they have room up there. Carpool. It won't be bad. Hippies are nice.

I completely agree with Kamikaze! Finally a voice of reason. Our only hope is that this new guy, who by the way Willits wanted out so bad they couldn't wait according to the public at Willits, will look at and absorb the strength of EHS staff and apreciate what we have as a unit. I hope that the new assistant super. will provide all of us some insight into way the stupidity of tests determines how great or how bad a school actually is, and Louie Bucher is THE BEST! He truly cared for education, students and teachers. Why can't we find people like him anymore?
Another important point....the principal at the middle school is the best and brightest we have, however she was purposely told something that kept her from applying, and when she changed her mind, was denied. I believe Haulk is afraid of her brilliance. Haulk won't be here after June of 2010, then we'll all be back to wondering who is running the ship. Remember, 4 board positions are up for grabs in Nov. Pick wisely public, for all of our sakes.

I know the new EHS Principal personally. I'm not sure where you received your information "ECS Employee", but it is completely inaccurate. Willits does not want Rick Jordan out! He is an incredible principal who will do all he can to ensure that his students succeed. Maybe you should check your facts before posting something so inaccurate. Your city is lucky to have such a dedicated educator.

I disagree! I know the new EHS principal personally too. He destroyed that school and the morale of the staff took a bit hit. If you were in his corner, forget him giving you any support. That goes for students, parents and his staff. I have heard first hand many complaints about him. He is very cool and I was told by a higher administrator "well, he is not a real people person". He can put on a good "act" for sure.

Allene wrote:

I know the new EHS Principal personally. I'm not sure where you received your information "ECS Employee", but it is completely inaccurate. Willits does not want Rick Jordan out! He is an incredible principal who will do all he can to ensure that his students succeed. Maybe you should check your facts before posting something so inaccurate. Your city is lucky to have such a dedicated educator.

Allene, I got this information from people who worked at the school, Bechtel Middle School. I also spoke to parents, business owners and several students. Where did you get your information?

We DO have qualified people in our area to hire!!!!And they need the jobs for the experience. They are the ones who truely care about the students here, and care about Humboldt county. We NEED to hire within our area!!!!
And no, it's not the good ole' boys. They are caring qualified Administers and Teachers.

Business owner as well wrote:

<quoted text>
The district does not have qualified people in its employ now. Going to HSU and getting an admin cert does not qualify you by any means. It gives you certification, but not qualification.
The district is in this mess because of the loyalty of the "boys" who are not qualified. Tough decisions need to be made and feelings are going to get hurt. A total make over is in order and none of the locals have the experience to achieve this goal. They have the certification, but not the experience which means qualification.
A complete re-organization of the district is in order. Hopefully this can happen, changes can be made and in a year or two the district can get its positive reputation back.

ECS Employee wrote:

<quoted text> Allene, I got this information from people who worked at the school, Bechtel Middle School. I also spoke to parents, business owners and several students. Where did you get your information?

Ask your new guy where he plans on sending his freshman daughter to high school.

Willits is happy to let Eureka have Jordan. Good riddance. He is a dreadful administrator and the school has not flourished under his lack of leadership. He is a grand stander and will suck all credit from his staff claiming he did anything good and push all blame onto the staff. You will be hard pressed to find anyone but Allene to stand up for him locally.

Amused wrote:

I disagree! I know the new EHS principal personally too. He destroyed that school and the morale of the staff took a bit hit. If you were in his corner, forget him giving you any support. That goes for students, parents and his staff. I have heard first hand many complaints about him. He is very cool and I was told by a higher administrator "well, he is not a real people person". He can put on a good "act" for sure.

You have got to be kidding me!!! I have know Mr. Jordan since he moved to our town of Willits I have worked side by side with him as a parent volunteer and our children have gone to school together. He cares very much about our students and staff. He has been proud of what his staff has done for the the BGMS students. I have been a parent volunteer and staff member and have never had as much support from any other principal. I have been witness to his interaction with parents, staff and students all have been with respect and with the best interest of our students. Parents who don't want to take the responsiblity for their parenting are normally the ones who have a problem with Mr. Jordan, as for the admin I wonder if it was someone who was jealous because they couldn't get the respect that Mr. Jordan gets from his staff and students.
I have been told by MANY members of our community that they have never been happier with the way the school has turned out and are sadden that Mr. Jordan is leaving and they are worried about our school going "down the tubes again". They have felt that our school has been safer and the teaching has never been better.
Mr. Jordan will be missed and EHS should be happy to have someone who has the best interest of their students and staff.
When you have someone with drive and the motivation to make a change their is always someone there to try to knock them down and everyone might be happy, but after all its our students that we need to think of first and I can tell you that it is about the students when it comes to Mr. Jordan.
I was very sad when Mr.Jordan announced he was leaving, and the tears from students and staff spoke volumes. He will be very much missed.

Kamikaze wrote:

<quoted text>
Ask your new guy where he plans on sending his freshman daughter to high school.

If you knew anything about this "new guy" and his family you wouldn't ask this question. Leave his kids out of it. YOu'll be ashamed of yourself if you get to know his family and wish you had children as level headed and on the right track in life as they are.

As a freshman in a new school its scary enough entering a school where you don't know anyone, having your father as the principal is just an added "bonus" so get over it and leave them alone.