The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/104305
Justin B Bieber Editorial "A Haunted House" -Page 4 -Page 2 Volume CXIV Issue 8 January 18, 2013 Serving Red Bluff High School since 1901 From principal to teacher Laurel Shoop and Marissa Chase/Bluffer Patrick Gleason, current principal, will be reassigned after 12 years of service Laurel Shoop & Marissa Chase Editors-in-Chief After twelve years of holding the position as principal of Red Bluff High School, Patrick Gleason will be stepping down and hoping to teach English starting with the 20132014 school year. According to Gleason, the chief reason behind his reassignment is the fact that he wants to be more available for his sons, Riley and Shea. While the question of who will be principal is still unanswered, superintendent Lisa Escobar will be gathering imput from staff, parents, and students about what they would like to see in a principal. In addition to this, Escobar would like to meet with all interested students on January 25 during lunch in Mrs. Kennedy's room to talk about what qualities they would like to see in a new principal. Interviews for RBHS's future principal will be held in March and the new principal will be hired to begin July 1, 2013. "I am confident we will find someone who is a perfect match. If not, we will continue to search because the position of principal is too important to settle," stated Escobar. According to Escobar, a high school principal is one of the most difficult and complex jobs around, and to be effective, one needs to inspire, motivate, and encourage staff to keep improving at what they do and increase student improvement. "An effective principal is an instructional leader and knows about teaching and learning, a visionary that will create a school that prepares all students for college and careers and builds collegiality so that there is a collaborative culture," said Escobar. In the past, California Teacher's Association Union has proprosed that the superintendent take the role of both principal and superintendent after they voted on it. However, after today, they will vote again and see what the overall consensus is. While this is just a possibility, Escobar said, "The board hired me to be the superintendent, not the principal, so that is my role in the district." According to Gleason, regardless of whoever claims his current position as principal, he is confident that this school will continue to be a good place for students attending. "We have a really good staff, and they will continue to do great things regardless of who becomes principal." RBHS practices intruder drill to ensure safety Egan Meagher Sports Editor On Wednesday during second period, Red Bluff High tested its preparedness in the event of a breach of security. The high school ran a test of their intruder alert system to find areas of the alert that could be improved on. It was conducted part way through second period with forewarning to the staff and students and began with the ringing of an alarm. "The alarm that will be sounded during an intruder alert is different from a fire alarm or some of the other alarms we have," said Miguel Barriga, associate principal in charge of the drill. Three Day Weekend When the alarm sounded, teachers locked the classroom doors and instructed students to move away from the doors and windows so they would not be visible by anyone passing by. The main goal during an intruder alert is to keep the students safe inside the classroom but make it appear as if no one is inside the room. Teachers also instructed students of what not do in a real life situation during the drill, such as calling parents, which could lead to much more confusion and panic in the event of an actual intruder alert. During the drill administration walked the halls checking doors and making sure that all students were in a classroom. "We wanted to see that doors were locked and that people were safe if it was a real life situation," said Barriga. Conducting this drill has been pushed recently by law enforcement and state education officials in light of recent violent events in Connecticut The drill mostly for staff to review our "procedureisand see where webecause we wantmake it better can improve to and safer for students." - Miguel Barriga Monday, Jan. 21, will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day and students will not have any school. School will begin the following day. This date marks the last day off until Winter Break, which begins Feb. 18 and ends Feb. 22. and California. "The drill is mostly for staff because we want review our procedure and see where we can improve to make it better and safer for students," said Barriga. This drill was also tied in with the anti-bullying that was held at the beginning of the week. "Both of the events were related. The assembly was a more proactive response and this drill is a reactive response to what could happen so we are prepared," said Barriga. After the drill, administration identified several points of the drill that could be improved in order to make it as safe as possible. The community can aid in the improvement by remaining off and away from the campus when the air-raid-like sirens can be heard. Winter Formal Winter Formal will be Feb. 9, 2013 at the Community Center. In order to buy tickets, all charges must be cleared in the Student Store and library by Jan. 24. Also, all students must have a Dance Contract on file. Tickets go on sale the week of Feb. 4.