header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


rhondidurandThe principal of Arroyo Seco Junior High School was arrested on a DUI charge after a crash Wednesday night, according to Sheriff’s Station officials.

Rhondi Durand, 56, of Canyon Country, was arrested Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m., said Detective Brad Thompson of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Durand was stopped at the corner of Jakes Way and Sierra Highway, after the two-door Lexus she was driving hit a parked car near that intersection, Thompson said.

“There was a crash at 7:15 (p.m.),” he said. “It was a vehicle into a parked car.”

Durand had a clean record prior to Wednesday night’s arrest, according to Sheriff’s Department records, Thompson said.

“I don’t see anything on her driver’s history that shows any kind of priors or anything like that,” Thompson said.

An official with the William S. Hart Union High School District said district officials are still gathering information on the incident and did not want to rush to judgment.

“We have to make sure we follow the letter of the law before we make any assumptions,” said Hart district board President Joe Messina.

“In some cases, we can put people on leave until we can find out what’s going on, but we able to be careful as to how we handle it,” Messina said.

The Hart district oversees junior highs and high schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, and has approximately 23,000 students.

“We have been in contact with the SCV Sheriff’s Dept regarding the arrest of one of our junior high principals for an alleged driving violation,” according to a statement by Rob Challinor, Hart district superintendent.

“The district can confirm that this alleged incident occurred after hours and is not connected in any way to a school or district event or activity,” the statement read. “This is a personnel issue currently under review, and we will provide updates as information becomes available.”

Durand was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and her bail was listed at $5,000.

Arroyo Seco Junior High School, which is located at 27171 N. Vista Delgado Drive, is a seventh- and eighth-grade school that has approximately 1,200 students.

It had an API score of 863 in 2012, which exceeded the state’s goal of 800 for all schools. The scale, which is a state metric for measuring school achievement, is based on a scale of 1-1,000.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

6 Comments

  1. PO'd parent says:

    She was busted with a DUI, why is the District Superintendent “alleging” or questioning the charges? Especially when she hit a parked car while driving drunk? Really Joe Messina? Just like Joe covered up the Cheer coach at WRHS who was dating her student a few years ago, and then married him. He covered that up too. Good job Hart District! Keep on protecting those employees that get paid by our tax dollars.

  2. Dave W says:

    We do not even know what her BAC was, as she chose to have a blood test, and not a field test. The arrest report says that she “Smelled of alcohol”. That is a long way from actually being drunk. Let wait and find out what the full story is,before we start throwing stones.

  3. Guest1 says:

    This woman is a moron and doesn’t deserve to be considered an idol by any of her students. Shame on you! What message are you sending to the kids?!

  4. Guest 2 says:

    What does the API score have to do with the incident? Unless the reporter was going to draw a comparison (which I highly doubt), the information is irrelevant and merely a space filler. Poor journalism. Ask some questions for more pertinent information–e.g., how far from home was she, was she going home or coming from, etc.

  5. Jeff says:

    Not a good week for Santa Clarita educators. Thankfully, nobody was injured. Now if we can only do something about the alleged Nazi school board member…….

  6. iyamlady415 says:

    This women is the reason that so many parents turn to home schooling when their children Hit the Jr. High level. For YEARS her campus has been a very unsafe place for kids. Arroyo Seco Jr, High is not the pretty campus WM. S. Hart School Dist. would like to paint. Get over it, She needs to be removed from her position. For God sake she hit a parked car and the. Hart school Dist. still wants to wear blinders. I’m not going to go into the many other allegation’s that school has had over the past years But I REALLY think the Dist. needs to start cleaning up our schools before we make more news stories like the LUSD. Durand I think you have over stayed your welcome as Principal and If you truly had any self respect after all this YOU would do the honorable thing and STEP DOWN before being asked to leave. And to think the kids she is setting an example for aren’t that far away from getting their licenses . wouldn’t it be nice if they all thought well heck My principal made the papers after she drank and drove and hit a parked car and she’s still here. Why cant I be just like her. Thank God I pulled my kids out of her school when I had the chance. Nice to see that even now 9 years after the fact she still remains oblivious to things around her.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16: Public Works Virtual Community Meeting for Updating Bicycle Master Plan
College of the Canyons got back on track during its return to conference play carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com