St. Helena principal runs candidate off campus

St. Helena High School Principal Jim Zoll ordered school board candidate Jim Haslip off the high school campus Sept. 29. Haslip was meeting with teachers to discuss potential grants as part of his work as a St. Helena Public Schools Foundation boardmember.

Haslip said that at the end of his first interview, Zoll arrived and ordered him out of the room. He asked why Haslip was on campus, and Haslip explained, saying he had signed in at the office and given his intended destination, as required by school policy.

According to Haslip, Zoll told him to come to Superintendent Allan Gordon's Vintage Hall office, and Haslip refused. Zoll then ordered him off campus, and Haslip began walking back to his car. Zoll followed, first telling Haslip not to come back again, then telling him to call in advance of his next visit.

Zoll declined to discuss the matter because it related to a person who was on campus, but in a letter to Haslip sent Friday he accused Haslip of disrupting classes and campaigning.

"As a result of your untimely visit, classroom instruction was interrupted and the safety of students during the fire drill was put in jeopardy," Zoll said, adding the teacher who reported Haslip's presence "was concerned that you were campaigning because of your campaign flier that was found on campus." /Jesse Duarte

Calistoga candidate

forums coming

The first of two Calistoga City Council candidate forums is at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Chateau Calistoga Mobile Home Park clubhouse. The candidate forum is sponsored by the Chateau Calistoga Homeowners Association.

The second forum, sponsored by the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce and a host of service clubs, including the Lions, Soroptimists and Kiwanis, is at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Calistoga Community Center, next to the Sharpsteen Museum./The Weekly Calistogan