BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A turbulent start to the new school year for a Christian school in southwest Bakersfield. In just one week: layoffs, petitions, and calls for the school’s top administrator to resign.
Stockdale Christian is a K through 12 school, where Jeff Mudrow has been the head of school for three years.
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On Aug. 16, three newly hired teachers were laid off after just one day of school. That began a community backlash from parents and staff, who even created a petition calling for Mudrow to step down.
The petition calling for Mudrow to step down, is over 250 signatures strong. The petition states he cut programs, cut staff, and is the cause of low enrollment.
“If a decision was made whether it was my actual decision or if it was a decision just made on campus at some level it filters back to my desk,” Mudrow said.
Mudrow said the reason for the layoffs, is because the school had 30 fewer students than projected. Since the school runs on enrollment, and tuition for Stockdale Christian is over $9,000, the school is missing $300,000 it expected to have.