Wheatland High officials at odds about discipline

An assistant principal who wrote a three-page letter detailing what he sees as a lackadaisical approach to student discipline at Wheatland High School has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Helmut Skujins said Vic Ramos, superintendent and principal of the Wheatland Union High School District, told him he was on leave Wednesday morning — after Skujins' discussion the previous day with district trustees about student discipline issues.

"It does seem vindictive," said Skujins, 67, who turned over his school keys and district cell phone.

"I'm willing to go back to work," Skujins said. "It doesn't make sense for me to be sitting home getting paid."

Skujins said Friday that Ramos, 55, who began as principal in July, hasn't supported him on policies that include a ban on student use of cell phones and iPods during school hours.

In his letter, Skujins cited increasing attempts by some students to start fights so they can make cell-phone videos for websites.

Skujins said students have filmed a dozen videos of brief fights, often in school bathrooms, that are posted on MySpace.

He also asserted in his letter that Ramos decided not to start expulsion of a student possessing marijuana on campus — a change in policy during Skujins' six years at Wheatland High, the assistant principal said.

Skujins warned trustees of "negative dynamics that are growing on this campus." He said former Principal Wayne Gadberry, seen as a strict disciplinarian, backed up assistant principals, but Ramos has been inconsistent.

"Most parents want the 'old school,'" said Skujins, who spoke about how "schools have their own culture."

Ramos, who came from the Sacramento City Unified School District, where he was principal of Rosemont High, did not show an interest in Wheatland's, Skujins said.

Ramos declined to comment on issues raised in the letter.

"The only thing I can tell you," Ramos said, "is we're always reviewing polices."

Justin Guzman, one of five district trustees, said Friday he couldn't comment on personnel issues.

"They're very impressed with our new superintendent," he said of the community. "They feel Wheatland High School is moving in a positive direction."

In his letter, Skujins also said Ramos has said nothing is wrong with students hugging and has proposed making a video to show what degree of hugging would be appropriate. The school has a policy limiting public displays of affection to hand holding, Skujins said.

He also contended that Ramos subjected him to an "outrageous, unprofessional verbal assault."

Skujins wrote: "I am not Dr. Ramos' personal whipping boy."

Skujins recounted Ramos yelling and berating him in February and April over student discipline matters.

Skujins said last month's incident with Ramos involved a temporary restraining order a Yuba County judge granted against a 16-year-old Wheatland High student, accused by a 17-year-old girl at the school of making a gun gesture toward her and later posting a MySpace threat to shoot her.

"There was no invitation by Dr. Ramos to discuss the facts, with which I was intimately involved, in a calm and professional matter," Skujins wrote.

Ramos, after an April 21 story in the Appeal-Democrat about the restraining order, said the article was all Skujins fault, Skujins recounted.

"It appears that Dr. Ramos is highly reactive to what he perceives as putting him in a 'bad light' in a political sense, from an outside source and he reacts in a belligerent manner," Skujins stated.

Skujins said he is retiring and believed he could be forthcoming with trustees.

"I have no desire to escalate any issues," he said. Trustees gave him "the opportunity to air my complaint, and I leave it at that."

In a telephone interview, Skujins said he doesn't know whether the administrative leave will allow him to return to work before school concludes next month.

"It's a sad way to end," he said. "This is not what I expected."

CONTACT Ryan McCarthy at 749-4707 or rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com.