BHS PRINCIPAL Gary Jensen. File photo
Online job posting indicates BUSD looking for new administrator
By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor
An online job posting for a new principal at Benicia High School could mean Gary Jensen has lost his fight to remain the head of that school — despite Benicia Unified School District trustees opting not to go ahead with his dismissal early last month.
The job posting at the website www.edjoin.org is dated April 10, with an application deadline of May 14 and a start date of July 1. Applicants are given Assistant Superintendent Michael Gardner’s phone number to contact.
On March 1, after intense parent, student and staff pressure, the BUSD board rescinded the pink slip it had issued to Jensen in February. That left any decision to fire Jensen with Superintendent of Benicia Schools Janice Adams.
Adams, citing district policy, would not comment Thursday except to confirm that the job posting is legitimate.
Jill Ray, a district parent who founded a Facebook group and circulated a petition opposing Jensen’s dismissal, said she’s learned that Adams indeed opted to fire the principal despite repeated strong showings of support at board meetings and elsewhere.
“But the final decision lies with the board and they have to make a decision on or before June 30th to terminate or reassign him,” Ray said. Because of that, she said, she is still urging people to come to the next board meeting April 19 to show their support for Jensen.
Trustee Dana Dean, also declining comment, added that she hoped “you are not reduced to printing ‘rumors’ from a single source again about what ‘allegedly’ happened.”
Jensen also declined comment Thursday.
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This is about the 10th article on this and I have yet to read any REASON why he is getting fired. Anyone? What did the guy do?
This is the fifth Herald article on this subject. A great deal of Jensen’s supporters’ frustration is that there has been no answer to your question. School officials all have deferred to the district policy of not commenting on personnel matters, and Jensen himself has declined to comment “at this time.” Ed.
OK 5, regardless it would be really nice to know why he is being raked over the coals by the district. Everything I have read in the FIVE articles seems to point to him having a ton of support from parents and students.
We will need to watch this carefully as it plays out
The truth is out there!
Hmmm, let’s see…. revolving door of principals, heavy parent support for existing principal and zero actual information coming from Superintendent or the School Board as to why they are looking to oust the current principal. Without further info, it looks to me like it’s not the principal that needs removing – hopefully voters remember this come election time.