LAUSD Ought to Bend Rules to Fill Post : Despite technicality, highly regarded assistant should be made principal of Sun Valley school

By now, it should be obvious to all that a core ingredient of any good school is a strong principal. But getting the most out of such a leader is not an overnight thing. It’s a process that relies upon nurtured relationships and a sense of trust with parents and staff that has been built up over time.

Another important part of the process is a quick response to take full advantage of new enthusiasm for change, if that enthusiasm exists. In fact, a failure to seize the moment may just as quickly lead back to apathy and discouragement.

So much the better, then, when such a school already has a likely principal candidate within its administrative ranks. Allowing that person to ascend to the principalship alleviates the inevitable delays created by new and unknown leadership. That’s because any outsider will have to learn the school, the students, the staff and the parents in that aforementioned give or take known as trust-building.

Regardless of school district rules, there will be times when the parents and teachers really do know who is best to lead their school.

At the moment, Sun Valley Middle School seems a prime example. There, many staff members and parents want highly respected and admired Assistant Principal Manny Rangell as their principal.

“[Rangell’s] first priority is the students and that’s what we need,” said parent Carmen Baredes. “This school was like a plant dying and someone came along and started watering it and caring for it. If they take [Rangell] away, it’ll start to die again.”

But the Los Angeles Unified School District says no. Rangell has not passed a qualifying exam that would allow him to be considered. It is also true that said exam will not be offered again for another two years because of budget cuts.

“We’re not willing to say, ‘You all come and apply and we’ll hire you.’ I’m not ready to do that. I don’t want this to become a popularity contest,” said LAUSD School Supt. Sid Thompson about the Sun Valley situation. Eli Brent, who oversees the district’s union for principals, agreed, saying, “Why not just pick someone off the street?”

Well, no one is suggesting either. But we are talking about the kind the flexibility that the school district ought to show here. School board member David Tokofsky, for example, who represents Sun Valley, says Supt. Thompson should appoint Rangell.

We agree, and we are also aware of 95 LAUSD principals and assistant principals who are working under a special Board of Education rule allowing them to serve without having taken the qualifying exam. Give Rangell a chance at the helm.