ORANGE : Principal’s Firing Protested by Union

The Orange Unified School District board’s decision to remove the principal of Fairhaven Elementary School ignores the needs of students and the wishes of the community, teachers’ union officials said this week.

“We normally don’t get involved in employment decisions as it relates to administration,” said Steve McDonald, executive director of the Orange Unified Education Assn., “but there are a number of issues that several parties have tried and not been able to resolve.”

The board announced earlier this month that Philip Morse, who took over as principal at Fairhaven last fall, would be reassigned to the classroom. The decision caused an outcry among parents, students and faculty who crowded a board meeting last week to request that the board rescind its decision.

Board President Alan E. Irish said this week that the decision to remove Morse was reaffirmed by the board in a closed session after the public hearing. But other district officials said the decision had been made final before the board meeting.

Hazel Stover, president of the Orange Unified Education Assn., said Morse’s reassignment shows a blatant disregard for the needs of Latino students and for overcrowded conditions at the Santa Ana school.

Members of the public who addressed the board last week said Morse has the full support of Fairhaven parents and faculty. One parent said Morse had “cleaned up a disaster” at the school, and another credited him with unprecedented outreach to the families of Latino students. Morse is bilingual, and 60% of Fairhaven’s students are considered limited-English speakers.

Trouble at Fairhaven began in January with the unexpected enrollment of 100 new students, most of whom spoke limited English, Fairhaven teacher Judy Boroskin said. The sudden growth was a burden for the 520-student school, which already had a high number of children at risk of becoming dropouts. Morse asked the district for a portable classroom, but the request was denied. Teachers then arranged a meeting with Supt. Norman C. Guith, who devised a plan to reorganize classroom space and utilize part of the library for teaching.

But the plan displaced the bilingual teacher, special education teacher and other staff who work with at-risk students, Boroskin said.

“In the bigger picture you may think we’re fighting over one portable,” McDonald said. “And you may ask, ‘Is that significant?’ It is significant because it’s limiting a certain population.”

Guith said he could not discuss reasons for Morse’s removal but added that “all the kids are being housed and as the enrollment grows, portables will be added.” A new principal will be assigned by August, he said.