NEW ECS SUPERINTENDENT: Dr. Fred Van Vleck

Dr. Fred Van Vleck has only been on the job for about a week, but he's already got some big changes in mind for the Eureka City Schools District.
"I think its unhealthy for the district its unhealthy for the community to have all this flux going on right now of not knowing whose going to be the principals at the individual sites next year," Van Vleck told News Channel 3’s Kelly May Monday. He was born and raised in Humboldt County, left for about 20 years, but now he's brought his expertise back to Eureka, to raise the bar for Eureka City Schools.
 
"I think that there's a real perception problem about Eureka City Schools."
 
Starting with personnel; at the end of the school year the district saw angry parents protest about interim superintendent Leanne Lanning's decision to shuffle elementary school principals. Parents were mad the incoming Van Vleck didn’t get involved, but his term didn’t start until July 1st.
 
"Prior to that I had to respect the decisions, and still do, respect the decisions of Mrs. Lanning," Van Vleck said.
 
But over the last few weeks even that issue has changed. The district is now looking for a new elementary principal.
 
"Depending on who that person is depends on where that person will be placed."
 
Van Vleck hopes to have principals settled at their designated sites within the next few weeks.
That's not all that’s unsettled with this new administrator, Van Vleck says it will take more than just changing procedures, he wants to fix the little things, like weeds growing outside Eureka High School, rusty fences, just to change this city's perspective of the district.
 
"The district needs a fresh perception out in the community,” he said.
 
"I think the perception out there right now is that we're not serving students to the level that parents and stakeholders in the community believe that we could be serving students."
 
"The perception isn't necessarily a reality."
 
"We need to work as a team to restore what’s important to the community and restore the faith in Eureka City Schools."