CdM High principal resigns

The principal of Corona del Mar High School, who earlier this year became embroiled in a controversy over the school’s spring production of the musical “Rent,” has resigned to take a job as assistant superintendent of another school district.

“I think I am the most proud of my students, my beautiful CdM kids,” Principal Fal Asrani said Friday. “Every year, we have continued to out-perform other schools. It’s a wonderful community and has been just a great school.”

Newsweek, which ranks the top high schools in the country each year, ranked Corona del Mar at 171 in the nation in 2009, up from 244 in 2005, when Asrani was named principal.

The school continues to post high test scores each year and sends most of its graduates on to college.

Asrani earned kudos from parents and school board members for cracking down on dress code offenses at the school when she began her four-year tenure at the school.

She came under intense scrutiny earlier this year after the school drama teacher claimed she canceled the school’s production of “Rent” over gay material in the script.

Asrani denies that version of events and claims she only wanted to review the script.

Corona del Mar’s production of “Rent” became a national touchstone for gay and lesbian issues when the incident drew media attention. Asrani later allowed the production to move forward, and it won numerous high school theater awards.

The “Rent” debacle later sparked an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit. In the suit, the group claimed school officials, including Asrani, fostered an environment at Corona del Mar rife with homophobia and sexism.

Asrani said Friday her move has nothing to do with “Rent” or the ensuing lawsuit.

Asrani will start her new job as assistant superintendent of instruction for the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools on Aug. 10. The partnership is the largest non-district school operator in Los Angeles and encompasses 10 schools and 18,000 students, according to the organization’s website.

“This is a great opportunity for me in my life,” she said.