After public, student protests, Anderson High principal gets his job back

After hearing from dozens of students, parents and other residents over the past week, the Anderson Union High School Board of Trustees on Friday reinstated Thomas Safford as principal at Anderson High School.

Safford had been placed on administrative leave on April 14 and then reassigned to work out of the school district office on Tuesday. More than 100 people showed up at the board meeting Friday to support the administrator, and 11 people urged the board to reinstate him as Anderson High’s principal.

After listening to about 25 minutes of public comment, the board went into closed session to again discuss Safford’s position. After emerging from the closed-door meeting Board President Joe Gibson read a statement.

“Long conversation, lots of discussion. The attorney allowed us to say one paragraph. Tom Safford may return to active duty Monday at Anderson High School as principal,” Gibson said.

The meeting room erupted in cheers and Safford was surrounded by family and friends who gave him hugs and handshakes.

Safford said after the announcement that he was relieved and happy with the board’s decision.

“So, obviously I think the right decision was made. It was a really strange situation in the first place. I think that it could have all been remedied very early on with just some conversation, as I’ve already spoken to you about. But at least people have been heard and you know the right decision was made. Now we can build Anderson,” Safford said.

Gibson said he felt the community’s support for Safford made a difference in whether to reinstate him. He said students who spoke out about how Safford was a mentor to them especially influenced him.

Gibson said he could not say more about the action taken in closed session.

District Superintendent Victor Hopper said after Tuesday’s meeting the board told him that Safford was not to return to work at Anderson High School, but he could keep his title and work out of the district office.

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 said Tuesday. "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."

Safford, however, said Friday night that he understood he was put on leave and then reassigned because of a difference of opinion on a student discipline matter.

Four students made a video that depicted one student’s head shoved into a toilet. He said all four students involved, including the “victim,” felt it was a joke and was not intended to intentionally hurt anyone. Safford said three of the students were put on detention, but others with the district wanted the students to receive a more severe punishment.

Board member Jackie LaBarbera also said she felt the support for Safford made a difference in reinstating him.

“I think the community is what changed things for Mr. Safford. After he was put on administrative leave, I believe it was April 14, the outpouring from the community with emails to myself, board members, texts, them (the community) showing up on Tuesday night, just spoke volumes to the board,” LaBarbera said.

The controversy in the community over the board of trustees did not end after reinstating Safford.

During the meeting, Megan Frost submitted to Gibson a notice of intent to recall him from office. The notice claims Gibson has shown “unprofessional conduct” and a lack of knowledge of board policy, including alleged violations of the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law.

Frost said she also intends to submit a notice of recall to Anderson Union High School District Trustee Cindy Trotter-Hogue. She was not at Friday’s meeting.

Two members of the Gateway Unified School District Board of Trustees, Elias and Lindsi Haynes, were also served this week with notices of intent to recall them from that school board.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Anderson High principal gets his job back after protests