VENTURA : School Principal to Be Reassigned

Diane Peterson, principal of Loma Vista School in Ventura, will be assigned to another job in the district for the next school year, Supt. Cesare Caldarelli said Thursday.

Ventura Unified School District trustees apparently decided on the reassignment during a closed session Tuesday, two weeks after parents praised and complained about Peterson during the trustees’ public comment period.

Kirt Anderson, vice president of the Loma Vista PTA, had told board members that there has been “an erosion of confidence” among teachers and parents regarding Peterson’s leadership.

His wife, Kim Anderson, said Thursday that the complaining parents are pleased with the decision to reassign Peterson. “We did not have anything against her personally,” said Anderson, whose three children attend Loma Vista. “We were not out to get her. . . . Her leadership at Loma Vista was not working.”

She declined to be more specific, saying she did not feel that it would be fair to Peterson. Peterson, who has said she does not know what the fuss is about, was unavailable for comment.

Parents of children who were students at Pierpont School during Peterson’s four-year tenure there have asked for Peterson to be returned to their school. She is now in her second year at Loma Vista.

Asked what job Peterson would be assigned to, Caldarelli replied: “The district has no comment about personnel matters. . . . The administration will do whatever is necessary to ensure the continuation of services.”