Blade out, board tells parents meeting

The Laguna Beach School Board declined a request to reinstate high school principal Nancy Blade at a meeting Tuesday night.

Blade, who has held her position for five years, submitted a letter of resignation in early February. The resignation was attributed to personal and professional reasons.

Hundreds of parents, teachers and other community members petitioned the board and participated in a protest seeking her reinstatement.

Blade had tried to rescind her resignation in a letter to the board, executive assistant to superintendent Darin Reed said.

On Tuesday, after listening to comments from nearly 30 parents, teachers and students, four board members ? absent Kathryn Turner ? voted against reinstatement.

Board member Jan Vickers said the board’s position was made more difficult as it is not able to discuss personnel issues. Board member El Hathaway said he will miss Blade, whom he called a “very gracious, caring and phenomenal person,” but added that to reinstate her would not be right.

“This is a $30 million business,” Hathaway said of the district.

With staff divided at the high school over the issue, Hathaway said it is important for the leadership problem to be resolved.

Board member Betsy Jenkins said Blade’s resignation was not “political.”

Board president Bob Whalen said he felt the resignation was the right thing for Blade.

“We’ve reached a conclusion and that’s to go ahead with the process that started two months ago,” Whalen said.

Parent Frank Cronin spoke in support of the school board.

“Everyone here is wasting their breath,” Cronin said. “They’re prohibited by law to speak on the facts. I don’t think it’s fair for parents to speak on facts when they don’t know.”

Teacher Jim Sadler said: “We already have the best principal the high school has had in decades.”

Many speakers told of personal experiences with Blade in which she showed kindness and altruism.

A nomination for a new principal is expected to be presented to the board at the April 25 meeting.