Del Mar school board considers taking action against superintendent

By Karen Billing

Superintendent Sharon McClain’s job is safe, for now. The Del Mar Union School District held a special meeting on Dec. 16 to consider disciplining or dismissing her.
The board was investigating a parent’s complaint about how McClain and principal Emily Disney handled the suspension of her child. The suspension was later overturned by the board, against the recommendation of McClain and Disney. No action was taken against McClain on Wednesday and trustee President Comischell Rodriguez said the investigation into the incident has concluded.
During the meeting, McClain defended herself by saying, “I fully believe the principal and I acted appropriately in this matter.”
With the threat of the board firing its second superintendent in 22 months, parents and staff members overwhelmingly supported McClain in the emotionally charged meeting.
Parents blamed trustees Katherine White, Steven McDowell and Annette Easton for the unsettling situation. Carmel Del Mar parent Allison Healy Poe likened accepting a job as superintendent of the Del Mar district to marrying Henry VIII, who famously had six wives, two of which were beheaded.
“I am simply aghast at the sheer arrogance and stupidity (of the suggestion) to terminate Sharon McClain,” said Del Mar Hills parent Kerry Traylor. “One complaint about your child can get a superintendent of an entire school district fired?”
Del Mar Hills parent Marybeth Norgren said the timing was bad, given the 7/11 committee’s deliberations over relocating administrative offices and possibly closing a school, and district budget concerns.
Parents said the turbulence within the district has worn hard on everyone, especially with clear public and private signals that the board and superintendent do not get along.
“I feel I have so aged,” said Kris Stevenson, president of the Del Mar Schools Education Foundation, near tears.
She said she was sad about the amount of time wasted on performance reviews of the superintendent, over 20 closed-session meetings.
“I just imagine if 20-plus meetings were spent on analysis and implementing cost-savings across the district or giving clear direction to the 7-11 committee,” Stevenson said. “Instead 20-plus meetings have resulted in an amazing amount of hours wasted.”
Parent Marybeth Norgren said it was frustrating to be kept in the dark, especially when the trustees ran on a platform of transparency. She suggested the job they might be best at was running a mushroom farm, “That’s one of the few things I know that thrives when being kept in the dark,” Norgren said.
Parent Genevieve Thunder spoke in support of the board, stating that the meetings needed to be kept closed to protect the student in question.
“This is an open hearing not a lynching of the board,” Thunder said.
She said it was unfair of people to judge the trustees so harshly, and she implored them to think of how they would feel if their child was denied his or her constitutional rights and told they could not attend school.
In addition to parental backing, McClain garnered the support of district teachers. Carmel Del Mar teacher David Skinner said he had signatures from more than 200 staff members opposed to ousting McClain. He described McClain as a superintendent who was tough but fair, honest and direct.
“Given half the chance, Dr. McClain is the perfect superintendent for our district at this time,” Skinner said.
Other staff members praised McClain’s strong communication skills, her support of teachers, and her philosophy of putting the children first.