Dunbar school will once again have a full-time principal for the 2009-2010 school year. After the resignation of current principal Claudia Berkman, the third principal in as many years to vacate the position, the district decided to make the change back to full-time.
“Making this change is in the best interest of Dunbar school,” said Pam Martens, Sonoma Valley Unified School District Superintendent. “We tried the part-time position for financial reasons but it isn’t working so we feel that this is a move in the right direction.”
Dunbar’s enrollment is small – at just 240 students, it’s about half the size of the other four district-run elementary schools – and its demographics are different than any other elementary school in the Valley. As is typical, students attend from the neighborhood but Dunbar is also a feeder school for those students in the Flowery district who are not interested in the dual immersion program. Consequently, the school has seen a dramatic shift in demographics over the past number of years.
Dunbar parent and garden coordinator Alissa Pearce is thrilled to hear the news. “We’re all very excited. With the part-time position it’s been hard to retain quality people. This is what the school needs for the next part of our history,” said Pearce.
The district is in the process of doing the paper screening for the position and will begin interviewing candidates next week. When asked whether there was an opportunity for Berkman to throw her hat back into the proverbial ring, Martens had no comment.
Martens did point out that while the position is now full-time, the Dunbar principal will also be responsible for running a comprehensive intervention program for students. At larger schools this position, known as the academic coordinator, is run by a separate full- or part-time facilitator.
Dunbar gets full-time principal back
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