100 Protest Principal’s Transfer

School board members defended their decision to transfer Oxnard High School Principal Daisy Tatum to another school, despite criticism by nearly 100 students, parents and teachers who attended their Wednesday night meeting.

In response to Tatum’s transfer, a new community group is launching a recall campaign against several board members, according to parent leader Terry Merricks.

She said trustees Art Hernandez, Nancy Koch, Bob Valles and Steve Stocks, who voted for the transfer, would be targeted. Trustee Irene Pinkard abstained on the issue.

Merricks, chairwoman of the “Grassroots Committee to Maintain Dignity,” said the group--with 30 to 40 members--wants to hold board members accountable for their decisions.

In addition to keeping Tatum at Oxnard High and removing trustees, the group wants the Oxnard Union High School District to reconsider its personnel practices, create a community advisory board and televise school board meetings.

Eventually, Merricks said, the committee wants to remove Bill Studt as superintendent, because he recommended Tatum’s reassignment.

“The process they have is kind of like a dictatorship,” she said. “Ms. Tatum has done a very good job at Oxnard High School and just to uproot her is going to do major harm to the school and the kids.”

On July 1, Tatum is scheduled to start as principal of the district’s new community day school, which will serve low-performing students and those currently doing independent study. Channel Islands High School Principal Jim Nielsen is to replace Tatum.

Janice Johnson, another district parent, was among the dozen people who spoke to the board. She chided trustees for removing such a popular principal.

“You are supposed to represent our interests and the interests of the community. Something has gone wrong,” she said.

Parents and teachers aren’t the only ones mobilizing on Tatum’s behalf. Oxnard High students wore yellow ribbons Wednesday to show their support. Tatum supporters also registered eligible seniors to vote in anticipation of a recall effort.

“This shows the board that we care about the decisions they make and that they should come to us,” said senior Claudia Nevarrete, 16.

David DeCaires, 16, assistant editor of the school paper, said he wants the trustees to reconsider their decision.

“The board needs to listen to us because our parents voted them in,” he said.

Studt said the transfer is a lateral move, not a demotion for Tatum. She will maintain her same title and salary, he said.

“Daisy is the one to do the job,” Studt said. “She has a lot of knowledge of kids in alternative settings.”

Koch, the board president, said that because of her previous experience, Tatum is the perfect person for the job, but said she was willing to listen to the parents’ concerns.

“I feel very comfortable with the decision I made, but I respect people’s right to advocate for what they believe in,” Koch said.

Board members met for about 45 minutes in closed session to discuss the transfer. When they came out, they told the crowd they stood by their decision.

Moments after the announcement, someone in the crowd hugged Tatum, who nodded and said, “Life goes on.”

Tatum earlier had said she would prefer to stay at Oxnard High, where she has been principal for the past five years.

“I’m a graduate of Oxnard High School and I was hoping to retire here,” she said. But she said she would give it her all at the community day school. “I will never lose sight of the child, no matter how I feel.”

Merricks said she and other parents will continue fighting to keep Tatum at Oxnard High even after she starts her new position.

“It may take a year, but we’re going to get Ms. Tatum back at Oxnard,” she said.