Parents protesting planned transfer of popular principal

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Tuesday, April 30, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

Transferring principals from one campus to another may be standard procedure in the Clark County School District -- but don't expect that to sway the families of a North Las Vegas elementary magnet school, who are furious after being told they'll lose their beloved principal.

Principal June Esherman, who has been at the Gilbert Magnet School for Communication and Creative Art for 12 years, told families over the weekend she expected to be transferred for the start of the new school year in August, several parents said Monday. Esherman said she had asked district officials to allow her to finish out her final two years at Gilbert before retirement, according to the parents.

About a dozen Gilbert students -- who didn't have class Monday because of teacher training -- carried homemade placards and marched up and down the sidewalk outside the district's offices on Flamingo Road. Also protesting were parents, including Danielle Dunsmore, whose son is in the first grade at Gilbert.

"Mrs. Esherman is what makes Gilbert great," Dunsmore said. "My son adores her."

Most principals are transferred after about five to eight years at a particular school, said Agustin Orci, deputy superintendent of instruction for the district. Orci, who met with the Gilbert parents Monday, said no final decision has been made on Esherman's possible transfer.

Michelle Slavin said her son Tas endures a one-hour daily commute to Gilbert instead of attending Rundell Elementary School across the street from their home.

"I want him to have the best education possible, and that's at Gilbert with Mrs. Esherman," Slavin said.

Esherman couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

Gilbert parents aren't the only ones questioning the school district's policy of reassigning administrators -- families from Park-Edison Elementary School turned out for last Thursday's school board meeting to complain about the transfer of Principal Miguel Rodrigues.

The parents said they were concerned that Rodrigues was being punished because of complaints from another group of parents about his management style. Clark County schools Superintendent Carlos Garcia reassured them that Rodrigues had been asked to open a new school, considered one of the top assignments.