Anderson High principal transferred to new job at the school district

This story has been updated with the correct vote of the Anderson Union High School District Board of Trustees during the closed session of their meeting on April 18.

Anderson High School’s now-former principal, Thomas Safford, has been reassigned to work out of the high school district office. But Safford will retain the title of principal, a school official said Tuesday following a heated Anderson Union High School District Board of Trustees meeting.

In addition, Safford will also receive the same pay and benefits, report to the district office and be assigned the duties of a principal, AUHSD Superintendent Victor Hopper said during an interview after the board meeting.

While Safford is no longer involved in Anderson High School's day-to-day operations, he can still engage with students as a volunteer, Hopper told the Record Searchlight.

"The board gave me clear direction that (Safford) is not to go back to Anderson High School," Hopper said during the interview. "I'm having him report to the district and having him do principal work at the district office. That means writing reports, grants and helping other principals when necessary."

Hopper said Safford was transferred from the school because he did not meet performance and other standards set by the school district.

"There were a multitude of factors that all led to the big picture of determining if his skillset was the right skillset for Anderson High School," Hopper told the newspaper. "Mr. Safford is a nice man, there's no debating that. Unfortunately, that's not the criteria when evaluating a principal. It's a determining factor, but not the only factor."

Hopper said there weren't specific incidents that led to Safford's departure.

"He has done nothing that merits any concerns from our parents, students or their well being," Hopper said.

The vote, held in closed session on Tuesday night, was to determine whether the district would accept Safford's resignation in exchange for him receiving 14 months salary. Board member Cindy Trotter-Hogue and board president Joe Gibson cast votes in favor of Safford’s resignation terms. Board members Jackie LaBarbera and Staci Adams voted not to accept Safford's resignation offer.

AUHSD clerk and fifth trustee Butch Schaefer was absent from Tuesday's meeting. With the board's 2-2 tie, the district's terms remained in place — that Safford, who had been put on administrative leave on April 13, would remain an AUHSD employee working at the main office, school district officials said.

Dozens show up at school board meeting where Safford's future decided

An estimated 400 parents, students, athletes and community leaders showed up to the meeting.Some community members there mistakenly thought that Safford was losing his job.

School board president Joe Gibson told the crowd several times during the meeting that Safford had not been fired.

Many community members in attendance expressed support for Safford after the vote.

Chants of "Safford! Safford!" chorused through the library in favor of the former Anderson High School principal. The pro-Safford crowd also booed and yelled insults at Hopper and the AUHSD Board of Trustees throughout the meeting.

During the public comment section of Tuesday's meeting, about 15 people spoke.

Among Safford's supporters was former Anderson and West Valley High School wrestling coach Dan Eckley. Eckley said he knew Safford when he taught biology at West Valley before becoming the Anderson High School principal.

"I know Tom as a man of integrity, faith and love," Eckley said. "He is an excellent teacher and excellent administrator."

During an interview after the meeting, Safford told the Record Searchlight: "I'm humbled by (the support) and I feel the love from the community that I love. Ultimately, this decision impacts the kids and that's why everyone was here. And it's why I'm here."

Anderson High students weigh in

On Tuesday morning, before the board meeting, about 40 Anderson High School students gathered outside of the school's administration building in the parking lot, shouting chants and waving signs in support of Safford.

Among the protestors was Safford's freshman son, Ethan Safford, who attends Anderson.

"He did nothing wrong," Ethan Safford said. "Everyone here loves him, they miss him already and it's only been two days."

Another student said Safford was known for his calm-mannered tone and being open to having discussions rather than rushing to deploy justice if there was a conflict at the school.

"If I got in trouble and got sent out of class, he would come and talk to me to help me understand why what I did was wrong and how I could improve my behavior," Anderson High sophomore Jylian Choate said. "Last year I got in trouble a lot, but this year since he's been principal, I've been doing a lot better. My grades have improved."

Anderson New Technology High School Principal Terry Bennett was named to serve as interim principal at Anderson High for the remainder of the school year, starting Monday. A search is underway for a new principal at Anderson High, according to an email sent from Hopper to students' parents and guardians that was obtained by the Record Searchlight.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Anderson High principal reassigned to new job at school district