And then possibly compound the action last night by refusing to back down?

Open Houses, job responsibility and priorities were on Dr. Dana Russell’s mind at the earlier meeting when he launched into a stern criticism of Principal Leslie Lockhart of El Rincon School, according to eyewitnesses.

The School Board President’s remarks stunned Ms. Lockhart’s friends and supporters. In the process, Dr. Russell ignited a personalized firestorm that skidded to an unsettling climax at last night’s meeting.

What Happened

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School District sources gave the following account of events:

Inexplicably, Open Houses were scheduled for both El Rincon School and El Marino Language School for the evening of Wednesday, March 19. Ms. Lockhart was very much in evidence for the start of El Rincon’s Open House.

Once the program under way and purring smoothly, Ms.. Lockhart, a mother herself, slipped away, “for less than 30 minutes,” to the campus of El Marino to consult with her child’s teacher(s) — what parents are supposed to do at Open Houses.

Making a U-turn

Almost before some people had noticed she was gone, Ms. Lockhart was back at El Rincon in her Principal’s role.

Dr. Russell turned up at El Rincon during the abbreviated window when Ms. Lockhart was on parental loan, conducting herself as a Mom.

Nearly a month later, at the first School Board meeting following the Spring Break, Dr. Russell told the audience that when he visited El Rincon’s Open House and asked to see the Principal, he was told Ms. Lockhart was not present. “If teachers are required to attend Open Houses,” Dr. Russell reportedly said, “principals should be there, too.”

Any Checking?

There is no evidence Dr. Russell researched beyond the “no” answer he was given. Word of this seemingly unfair judgment traveled mercurially across Culver City.

Ms. Lockhart’s defenders arose as one. They vowed to correct the record at the next public opportunity, last night’s Board meeting. “Parents, teachers and Leslie’s staff rallied to her side,” one mother told the newspaper.

During the public comment period, Jeanette James and Denise Clary Wilson declared a firm correction of Dr. Russell’s charge. Board member Scott Zeidman said he had received emails and telephone calls, strongly, urgently clarifying Ms. Lockhart’s whereabouts during the Open House.

It was no shock moments later when the outspoken Board member Saundra Davis extended an apology to Ms. Lockhart on behalf of the entire School Board.

Did Everyone Agree?

Whether Ms. Davis’s peace gesture represented the sentiments of every Board member remained questionable this afternoon because it was clear to observers that Dr. Russell was not in a mood to apologize.

Instead, the dentist said that what he meant to say was that Open Houses should not be scheduled at two schools in the School District at the same time.

Ms. Lockhart may agree because she would have conserved both gasoline and her own energy if she could have remained on one campus.