By Jondi Gumz
Alison Hanks-Sloan, principal of Aptos High School for almost three years, is being reassigned, and parents and teachers are not happy about it.
In a petition on Change.org, parents say, “Dr AHS has led the school with grace, passion and strength. She’s been an unwavering support for all who come in contact with her. This would be a devastating loss for the Aptos High Community.”
So far, 600 people have signed the petition.
They are asking Dr. Heather Contreras, superintendent of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District since May, to reverse her decision.
Mike Berman (right), PVUSD assistant superintendent of educational services, asks for input on the new principal of Aptos High School.
The district is experiencing financial struggles, as one-time pandemic funds have sunset and enrollment has declined, part of a statewide trend for the past seven years as more families move away due to the high cost of living and others dissatisfied with online lessons during the 2020 pandemic opted to homeschool.
Also, birth rates have declined statewide and in Santa Cruz County.
This year, Aptos High School has 1,230 students, down from 1,316 the year before and 1,450 the year before that.
In January, the school board cut $5 million, affecting an unspecified number of intervention teachers, mental health clinicians and socio-emotional counselors.
In February, the school board approved layoffs for 60 positions after Chief Budget Officer Jenny Im recommended 100 layoffs to stave off a state takeover.
In such a takeover, the local school board loses its decision-making power, and a state-appointed administrator takes control, potentially leading to budget cuts, program closures, and a lengthy recovery.
Afterward Im resigned.
She had been promoted from her role as director of finance, but also had to do that job because the position remained vacant.
Rick Hanks, father of the Aptos High School principal, said her reassignment letter arrived March 6.
The letter said she would be informed of her assignment by June 30.
Because this is a personnel matter, district officials have not shared reasons for the reassignment.
During her tenure as principal, Hanks-Sloan wrote a monthly column for Aptos Times, sharing updates on Aptos High School with the community.
In her March 15 column, she explained the role of the school board in personnel decisions, noting that reassignments by the superintendent must be approved by the board before March 15 and that constituents have the right to contact their school board member and provide information on “issues most important to you.”
She asked that her usual byline as “Aptos High principal” be removed.
In their petition, parents say Hanks-Sloan “has supported and communicated with her teachers during budget cuts, schedule change & layoff talks within the PVUSD school district.”
They contend “Superintendent Heather Contreras felt challenged by it because she expected the narrative to come only from her, even though the only communications that were happening were convoluted and confusing. Once Dr. AHS got word that she was not to support or communicate with her staff about what was happening, she stopped. But by then feelings had been hurt and Contreras decided to punish Dr. AHS by removing her from her position at the end of the school year.”
Parents call this decision “rash” and “extremely upsetting for hundreds of students, parents and staff who have been lucky enough to have her as a Principal, a listening ear, a friend, a mentor and a stable and calming leader at Aptos High.”
Aptos High students rallied with signs to save the 7-period day. District staff claim it requires more FTE (staff) but it does gives students more face time with teachers.
Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, said the union has assurances that the 7-period day will stay for next year but that a consultant has been hired to look for systemic inequities.
“Equity means everybody gets what they need,” he said.
Neither Watsonville High nor Pajaro Valley High have a 7-period day but two-thirds of the Pajaro Valley High staff voted to move to a 7-period day, where teachers teaching five classes are considered full-time.
As Diniz sees it, the district has a $355 million budget and the 7-period day costing $1.5 million to $2 million, is a small part.
He is not taking into account that 38% to 48% can be restricted funds.
On March 24, Mike Berman, assistant superintendent of educational services, hosted a meeting at Aptos High to take input on what qualities parents would like to see in the next principal.
About 40 people attended,
Berman, who has a 10th grader at Aptos High and a 5th grader at Rio Del Mar Elementary, acknowledged that many in the room were frustrated and upset by the process.
“I hear you, I hear you,” he said repeatedly.
He said applicants would be considered by staff the day after spring break in April, with top candidates going to the superintendent’s cabinet the next day, and the finalist to the school board April 16.
Berman asked attendees to fill out poster boards labeled “Academics,” “Climate+ Culture,” “School Safety,” and “Other,” promising that this input was important.
One parent said she emailed the superintendent but got no response. She said some teachers were reluctant to participate fearing retributiuon.
At one table, attendees filled the board with “Dr AHS” and “Dr. Alison Hanks-Sloan.”
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TOP PHOTO: Poster board (with Dr. Alison hanks Sloan head shot insert)
