In search of a new principal…

When Ron Rosenbaum announced his retirement on February 28 of this year, he stated that it was time for him to move on at the end of the year.

“I’ve spent four years as principal here, and it just worked out to be the best time to retire. After a 34-year career, it seemed like the right time in life to move on.”

Rosenbaum’s replacement will oversee start-up of the 2007/2008 school year, a variety of new courses, implementation of the WASC plan among many other items.

“I believe that Albany is pretty stable right now,” said Rosenbaum. “It needed a lot of change when I got here, but since then Albany has hired more counselors, sorted out the science programs, fixed the minutes problem and started the IHS program.”

Dr. William Wong, Albany’s superintendent, stated that Rosenbaum’s as high school principal has, “helped Albany High for the past several years.”

After Rosenbaum made the announcement, school board members began the process of deciding the position’s future. Dr. William Wong and the school board have already started in the search for Rosenbaum’s replacement.

“The position will be published in a statewide education newsletter called EdCal and will be locally published through job postings,” said Wong.

The quick start will hopefully produce a variety of talented applicants before the posting is closed on April 30.

“After the posting is closed,” Wong said, “I will review the applications to screen out those who do not meet the minimum qualifications.”

The selection process will begin through a series of screenings conducted by an interview panel consisting of various staff members, teachers, students and parents.

“This first panel will select three to five finalists for the position,” said Wong. They expect the decision to be made around the second week of May.

Wong expects the process to wrap up soon after the finalists are announced.

“A second panel will consist of myself and one or two of the Board members. We will interview the finalists and make our recommendation to the entire school board about the third week of May.”

Wong also said that he expects the announcement of the new principal to be made at the second board meeting of May, which falls on May 22.

The school board has reacted quickly, having already set dates and deadlines for the hiring process. But is the process fail-safe or are there potential problems?

“Set-backs tend to occur if the members of the interview panel do not maintain confidentiality,” said Wong. “It is important to have everyone understand that only the school board can hire and that can only happen at a board meeting with a proper agenda.”

All Albany students and teachers can do right now is hope that the process will be completed in due time, as Rosenbaum’s retirement is effective on July 1, 2007. For now, Albany High will finish the school year as normal, while the school board works on finding a replacement principal.

“I still want to be involved with Albany High, I mean, my kids went here and I live right down the street,” laughed Rosenbaum. “Maybe someday I will run for school board.”

3 Responses

1. 12:47 PM on March 22nd, 2007someone:

   why doesn’t ms. wollenweber just becomes the new principal since she is vice-principle?

2. 4:06 PM on July 7th, 2007the best that ever did it.:

   they should make immoni the principal.

3. 11:08 AM on September 7th, 2007AHS student:

   we have barone

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