Pleas Fail to Stop Principal’s Move

Supporters of the popular Latina principal of John Glenn High School in Norwalk have failed to stop her transfer to another high school in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District.

More than 100 supporters packed a Board of Education meeting Monday to protest the transfer of Mary Louise Ortega to Norwalk High School.

However, Supt. Robert Aguilar said his decision will stand. Aguilar said he made the decision after Norwalk High Principal Erland Eberhard informed him that he was resigning.

“I saw the opportunity to make some changes in administration in the secondary schools,” Aguilar said.

Ortega’s supporters, who included teachers, parents and students, were limited to two minutes each to address the seven-member board. Most were aware that an administrative decision had been made but hoped their opinions would persuade board members to reverse the action. A petition, signed by 92 of the school’s 120 employees, also was submitted.

Sexist allegations were made by teachers and parents. They claimed that the director of secondary education, Elias Galvan, was behind the decision to take Ortega off her duties at Glenn. Galvan was principal of that school for 10 years but he denied taking part in the decision. “It doesn’t matter to me,” he said. Ortega took over as principal for Galvan in September, 1990.