Mar 1, 2008

Berkeley vice principal accused of misuse of authority

By Doug Oakley / Daily News Staff Writer

A Berkeley Unified School District vice principal accused of "heavy-handed use of authority and cutting corners on due process" is under investigation, the president of the board of education said on Friday.

Margaret Lowry, vice principal of Willard Middle School, was placed on administrative leave about two weeks ago, and will be transferred to the Berkeley Adult School on March 11 for the remainder of the school year, said president John Selawsky.

Thomas Orput, an administrator at the adult school, will take her place at Willard.

"We're doing an investigation, and going further back a couple of years and trying to piece things together," Selawsky said. "There are a lot of allegations going on, and we have to take it seriously. She has been transferred, and we just want to assure the community that she won't be dealing with minors."

Selawsky said he couldn't give specifics about the allegations because they have not been verified.

"This is rare; that's why it's so troubling," he said. "Some of these allegations are pretty serious."

Lowry had been at Willard for about two years, he said.

Superintendent William Huyett said "we looked into the allegations, and felt a change at the school would be good for parents and the community."

Lowry was unavailable for comment Friday.



E-mail Doug Oakley at doakley@bayareanewsgroup.com.