In Hermosa Beach : New Principal Will Really Be Own Boss

The Hermosa Beach school district has a new superintendent and a new principal for its only school.

It’s the same person.

Shalee Cunningham, who has been the interim principal of Hermosa Valley School since April, was the school board’s unanimous selection from 35 applicants, said board President Lynne Gonzales.

Cunningham replaces former Supt. Marilyn Corey and former Principal Connie Ridgeway, both of whom resigned to take similar positions elsewhere. Gonzales said the school board decided to combine the positions because the district has only one school to administer and the move would save money.

“I guess her strongest point was her ability to work with the staff and her organizational skills--those kinds of things. She’s very personable,” Gonzales said.

Since the announcement, Gonzales added, Cunningham’s office “is full of flowers and champagne. Apparently it was a popular decision.”

Cunningham is working on a Ph.D. in school administration at USC. Before that, she served as the superintendent-principal of the one-school Vista del Mar district in Santa Barbara for four years.

The Hermosa Beach district--after closing four schools in the past 10 years because of declining enrollment--now has a stable student population of 650 in kindergarten through eighth grade and has 30 teachers. Today is the last day of school.

“This district is in very good shape right now, that’s what impressed me about it,” Cunningham said. She said that she hopes to expand slightly the school’s “superior programs” in science and math and help improve students’ self-esteem.

Cunningham, who will earn $63,000 a year, said the dual role is “very challenging. You really have to work on organizational skills and time management.”

Corey resigned last August to become superintendent of the larger Oak Park Unified School District in southeastern Ventura County. Ridgeway resigned to become principal at a school in Victorville.