As hundreds of San Clemente residents have stood in solidarity in support of departed San Clemente High School principal Michael Halt, he stated this week that he is unable to comment on his situation.
“I am required to refer all inquiries to the district,” Halt said, after being asked what caused his departure and his reaction to a widespread show of community support.
Some 400 students, parents, teachers, staff and community members turned out for a Capistrano Unified School District board meeting May 13, offering testimonials to the exemplary job they said Halt had done at San Clemente High, instilling accountability and an elevated campus culture. They asked district trustees to reinstate him.
Board members have said that confidentiality rules preclude them from commenting. But Trustee John Alpay, who had been part of a unanimous vote not to renew Halt’s contract months ago, called for an independent investigation. Alpay said May 13 that his earlier vote was based on what trustees were told by district staff at the time, but he has since seen information that he doesn’t believe had been presented to the board, and he questioned why it wasn’t.
Alpay asked the board to consider – during an open session – hiring an independent investigator to look into the circumstances of Halt’s dismissal. At the May 13 board meeting, a letter submitted by Capo Unified’s high school teacher of the year Wendy Washington offered a group testimonial to Halt, signed, she said, by 75 faculty and staff.
A copy of the letter obtained by the Register called Halt “perhaps the finest principal” in the school’s 50-year history. It said that under his leadership the school dramatically reduced student suspensions, truancies and tardies, raised staff morale through positive feedback and clear expectations and left the campus remarkably clean after lunch and after school.
“Mike is a positive and regular presence around campus, in classrooms and at extracurricular activities frequently engaging students in conversation,” the letter said.
It said the staff was honored to work with such an outstanding leader and man, whose leadership transformed the campus physically and spiritually.
“San Clemente High School is a much better school as a result of Mike Halt’s leadership,” the letter said. “He has our unconditional and enthusiastic recommendation for any position as a principal.”
Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127