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Parents, students urge Orange Unified to keep popular California Inspire principal amid reassignment
Summary
Dozens of students and parents packed the June 18 meeting to urge Orange Unified not to move a widely praised principal at California Inspire Academy, citing higher attendance, strong family engagement and a petition of roughly 400 signatures; the board said personnel placement is a staff decision and did not vote on the assignment.
Dozens of students and parents asked the Orange Unified School District Board on June 18 to reverse a planned reassignment of the principal known in testimony as “Doctor B” at California Inspire Academy, saying her leadership has improved attendance and built community trust.
Speakers described the principal as a daily presence who “knows all our names” and credited her with motivating students and increasing volunteer participation. Student Wesley Wooding told the board, “She knows all our names, and we feel like we belong,” and asked trustees to “please consider keeping Doctor B at California next year.” Parents said they had gathered about 400 petition signatures.
The outpouring came during an extended public-comment period before the regular meeting. Board President Erickson told attendees the board does not make site personnel placements: “This is staff’s decision. This is not our decision to make. This is a personnel decision,” the president said, and added that staff were listening.
Superintendent Mike Christiansen later addressed principal assignments in his superintendent’s report, saying the district typically finalizes principal assignments via staff processes and a July announcement, noting factors such as leadership fit, program needs and vacancies. Christiansen asked for community patience as staff finalize appointments.
Although several speakers urged the trustees to intervene or to create mentoring and vice-principal support instead of reassigning the principal, the board did not take formal action on the personnel matter at the meeting.
What happens next: Christiansen said staff will finalize and publicize appointments; trustees and staff repeatedly thanked parents and community members for their engagement and said they were taking the concerns into consideration.
