District defends choice for new principal

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Less than 24 hours after announcing the hiring of embattled former Santa Ynez Union High School Principal Norm Clevenger as the new principal at San Marcos High, Santa Barbara School District’s Superintendent Brian Sarvis addressed his new principal’s past.
In a prepared statement, Sarvis said he and a team from San Marcos researched Clevenger thoroughly before making a decision.

“Norm is a good-to-great principal,” he said. “Santa Ynez’s loss is our gain. We are fortunate to have benefited from the differences in personal styles between Norm and his previous superintendent. I was repeatedly told that Norm handled the strained relationship honestly and in a highly professional manner.”
Clevenger was put on paid administrative leave last February by Santa Ynez Valley Union high school district Superintendent Fred Van Leuven. Since then a storm of controversy, including an effort to recall all five of the district’s board of trustees has been initiated.
According to a March 12 Santa Maria Times story, Van Leuven told district officials in a Feb. 19 e-mail that his reasons for getting rid of Clevenger were, “between Norm and me and I can not discuss this personnel matter.”
Whatever that difference was, Sarvis believes San Marcos will be better off for it.
“We welcome Norm into our school districts,” he said.
Clevenger said in a statement that he is excited to work with San Marcos students and has been impressed in the past by the quality of education provided there.
“My passion is working with a school to promote student success for all,” he said. “I believe that my leadership style is well suited for the very professional staff at San Marcos High and I look forward to working with them.”
Clevenger, who was principal at Santa Ynez High for nine years, will replace retiring San Marcos Principal Craig Morgan. His starting salary will range from $113,074 to $125,847.