Rain but no resignation

“Save our principal!”

The chants could be heard from blocks away in the pouring rain as more than 150 protesters gathered Wednesday evening in front of Laguna Beach Unified School district offices.

A stream of passing cars honked to show support during the hour-long rally to protest the resignation of high school Principal Nancy Blade, who, after five years, will leave the district at the end of the school year.

Blade has said she is stepping down for personal and professional reasons, but some parents believe she was forced out and want the district to keep her in place.

The district is moving quickly to replace Blade.

Parents, teachers, alumni and high school students bordered both sides of Park Avenue and carried signs while organizer Bill Steel addressed them through a megaphone.

“Many of us feel we’re not being heard,” parent Diane Stevens said. “Why are we rushing into getting a new principal?”

“It’s appalling that people in our community are willing to crumple her [Blade] up and throw her in the trash,” Steel said. “She’s done nothing to warrant being cast aside.”

Parent Martha Jager says she has gathered more than 650 adult signatures on a petition to reinstate Blade. Another 200 student signatures were also gathered.

High school history and English teacher Carolen Sadler credits Blade with raising student Academic Performance Index scores by 40 points.

“Other districts would have canonized her. This district never acknowledged it,” Sadler said.

“This didn’t need to be a done deal, we want to start dialogue between Blade and [Supt. Theresa] Daem to seriously consider a reinstatement,” parent Steve Sachse said.

“There’s been a breakdown in dialogue,” high school physics teacher Jen Merritt said. “They’ll replace her but not with anyone as good.”

Cambria Steel, a 2005 graduate, said: “We asked her to be our graduation speaker because everyone loved her.”

Blade has not commented on her resignation, and Daem has stated that she is precluded from making comments about personnel issues.

The district’s selection process to hire a new principal is under way, with some 50 applying for the position. A final recommendation is expected to be brought to the board April 25. cpt.31-principal-CPhotoInfoV31PFGEV20060331iwxa4eknDON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Students, parents, and teachers support Nancy Blade during rally at Laguna High for the principal who recently resigned.