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BHS principal will head north

By Jeffrey Obser, Daily Planet staff
Friday October 12, 2001

Berkeley High School Principal Frank Lynch will leave Berkeley to become superintendent of the Del Norte County Unified School District, perhaps as soon as Nov. 1. 

In a phone interview at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Barbara Williams, executive secretary to the Del Norte County board, said the school board vote in Lynch’s favor was unanimous. Williams added that a Nov. 1 start date was possible, but unconfirmed.  

Lynch was in Crescent City on Thursday to attend the board meeting. Earlier in the day, Berkeley Superintendent Michele Lawrence described his departure as “pretty firm.” 

“Certainly he will be missed,” Lawrence said. “I think in his time he helped heal the school, and helped begin its recovery, and I’m much appreciative of that.” 

School Board President Terry Doran said the board and the superintendent had been preparing for the possibility of Lynch’s departure since he announced he had applied for another job in August. 

“We feel we’re prepared to have an administrative structure at the school that will allow the school to function well and complete the WASC process,” Doran said, referring to the accreditation board, which will re-evaluate Berkeley High next fall.  

Lynch began work at the district on Aug. 8, 2000.