SANTA BARBARA – The principal of La Cuesta High School will be retiring at the end of the month but will stay on as the school's leader without being on the payroll.
Kathy Abney has been the principal of the continuation high school for 11 years and said after retirement she will come back to work for free.
"It's absolutely the right thing to do," said Abney. "I would be volunteering some place anyway. I'm not the kind of person who would let moss grow under my feet, so why wouldn't I volunteer at the place where my heart is?"
Abney plans to stay on board for the next two years. She will train Frann Wageneck, a current Santa Barbara High School assistant principal, to take her place. She will also make sure La Cuesta gets its six year accreditation. The school already has a three year accreditation.
"Not surprised that she'd give of her own personal time for whatever it takes, that's kind of her slogan," said Dr. David Cash, school district superintendent.
La Cuesta is a continuation high school that has 125 students enrolled who are all behind in credits. The goal is to get them back on track for graduation.
Abney officially retires on June 29 but will be back as a full time volunteer on July 2.
"I get like a whole weekend off," she said with a laugh.
"We'll miss her, though we won't because we'll still get to see her all the time," said Dr. Cash.
