Costa administration continues search for replacement for Vice Principal Paula Hart

By Ari Howorth
Staff Writer

The administration has narrowed down the search for Vice Principal Paula Hart’s replacement to three candidates: a teacher from San Marino, an administrator from Centinela Valley School District and former Costa English teacher and current Culver City High School Assistant Principal Ian Drummond.

Drummond taught at Costa for 10 years prior to his taking the assistant principal position at Culver City High School after the 2008-09 school year. He taught English and the Advanced Via Individual Determination, or AVID, course while at Costa before it was cut due to budget constraints.

“I really enjoyed his class,” Costa class of 2010 alumnus Austin Siegmund-Broka said. “He really respected his students. He treated them like real adults, which I think is a good quality for any administrator to have.”

Hart, whose resignation will become effective July 1, handled athletic director duties for three years at Costa along with various other VP responsibilities.

Next year, the administration hopes to split those responsibilities into two separate jobs, bringing back the athletic director position. The position was originally eliminated three years ago due to budgetary constraints.

“There was no reason why the jobs should be held by one person,” Principal Ben Dale said.

The budget will increase to cover a new staff member, which Dale believes is necessary.

“It’ll be much more efficient this way,” Dale said.

While the process of finding a new athletic director is just beginning, the process of finding a new vice principal is almost complete.

“I know Drummond was in the original pool, and I know he made it into the final three,” Hart said. “But I don’t know if he got it. I’ve been too busy with CIF, and I haven’t been very involved in the process.”

By the end of this school year, the administration hopes to have found a new vice principal and athletic director.

“The major piece of advice I would give to my successor is be ready to work hard,” Hart said. “Enjoy the students and be good to the staff; they’re the ones who really make things happen here.”