EAST LOS ANGELES : New Principal for Eastman Elementary

Principal David Vidaurrazaga has been assigned to Eastman Elementary School, where bitter parent protests forced the ouster of former principal Dorothy Padilla.

Vidaurrazaga, who was principal at the 450-student Soto Street Elementary School for two years, has already moved to his new position and is preparing for the Feb. 16 start of the school’s next semester.

Padilla was removed in late November after three years as principal in the wake of parents’ protests, which included picketing outside the school at 4112 E. Olympic Blvd.

The parents protested Padilla’s extended absences from school and charged that she caused rifts between parents and teachers. They gathered more than 800 signatures calling for her removal and delivered copies to the Board of Education.

A representative of the parent group said he has met with Vidaurrazaga and is optimistic about the school’s future. “I assured him that my intentions were to unite the school and assure that everyone has a voice,” said parent Tomas Fresquez. “I feel very confident with him and I’m looking forward to working with him for the betterment of the children.”

Vidaurrazaga, 40, said he is looking forward to his new assignment at the 1,500-student school. “As principal, we’re always in the fishbowl, so that comes with the territory,” he said. “I’m going to do my best to work with everyone and make the situation better here.”

Fueled by their success at Eastman, parents have continued meeting regularly and hope to launch a coalition of parent groups from other schools.

“The schools need parent involvement, and the administration and the schools are going to need the parents and the parents need them,” Fresquez said. “I think that’s where everything is headed.”