Opinions of the Austin High School community concerning Principal John Hudson's departure are as divided as they were during his tenure.
Hudson, who will take a position with the Region 13 Education Service Center after his contract expires in June, was originally targeted for removal by six Austin High School parents in January.
"I would really like for us to have a principal who is more interested in being part of the community," Marcia Edwards, one of the six parents, said. "That's something we need to think about in our search."
Another parent, Steve Saunders, said a prerequisite for the job should be an understanding of the community coming in, as well as a desire to become involved in its activities. In a letter the six parents sent to the superintendent, they cited Hudson's allegedly abrasive personality and disregard for school traditions. The letter also attributed the attrition of 20 faculty members to Hudson's hiring in 2006.
Leyla Cohlmia, chair of Austin High School's science department and a vocal supporter of Hudson, said these losses were due to the pull of higher-paying jobs or other unrelated causes, not to problems with the administration. She said she did not believe the parents' grievances were legitimate. For example, Hudson was criticized for cutting down on programs such as pep rallies, but Cohlmia said that decision was made by the cheerleading sponsor.
"We as a faculty asked that activities not take place during class time," English teacher Jamie Stanley said.
Sign language teacher Robin Lind expressed disappointment with Hudson's decision to leave. Much of the dissatisfaction expressed by parents comes from not knowing what goes on at the school, she said. She compared the numbers of 120 largely supportive faculty members with what she saw as, perhaps, the disproportionate influence of five or six parents.
English teacher Sean McWhirter said Hudson was a positive influence on a campus that had become complacent in recent years.
The views of students interviewed were for the most part aligned with the complaining parents' views.
Junior Carson Hawley said, "He just takes away the fun from Austin High."
Hawley and other students criticized Hudson for the curtailment of pep rallies and other school traditions that normally took place during class hours. The changes students disliked were made by the entire faculty, teachers said. Students also pointed to an instance of a pillar painted over after band members covered it with commemorations of a student who had committed suicide.
Junior Zack Milliken was slow to condemn Hudson. Conceding that seniors commit vandalism every year, he said he would not have cared if his class' funds were used for the clean-up, as Hudson attempted to do in the fall.
The coaching staffs for all sports said they had decided not to comment for any stories. Hudson was also unavailable for comment at press time.
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