By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
School District Superintendent Mary Wegner has notified four of the district’s seven principals and assistant principals that they may be reassigned to different schools next year.
“I’m considering some principal placement changes for next year to better align individual strengths and building needs to achieve School Board goals,” Wegner said today. “This is just the first step in the process.”
She cited the goal of “closing the achievement gap” as a main goal for proposing changes in building principals.
Wegner declined to list the specific principals, and said she has not made any decisions. She has notified School Board members, and said she is working in concert with John Holst, who will be interim superintendent after Wegner leaves the position June 30.
Both Sitka High and Blatchley Middle School have a principal and an assistant principal. Keet Gooshi Heen, Baranof Elementary and Pacific High School each has a principal.
“There’s a lot of thought put into this to make a difference for the students,” Wegner said. “We have highly skilled administrators – we want to make sure they’re in the best positions.”
The principals and assistant principals are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
“The process is to first notify them I’m considering a change,” Wegner said, of the email she sent to them Thursday.
All four have already contacted her to discuss the issue, which is also part of the process; a few have indicated over the years “they would be open to a change,” she added.
Wegner is resigning and has taken a position with University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. She has worked four years in Sitka as assistant superintendent and six as superintendent.
But she said she remains concerned about some areas where she believes changing positions at the administrative level could make a difference.
“We’ve not made progress in the last few years of closing the achievement gap, and I feel this is warranted,” the superintendent said.
“We need to do everything in our power to achieve the goals of the School Board,” she added. “We still have a gap and it’s not drastically closing yet. ... It’s my responsibility to do everything in my power to make sure students are successful.”
Wegner said she would let the public know once a final decision has been made on the reassignment of the four administrators.
Board President Elias Erickson said today he and other board members were also advised Thursday night, about the potential changes in the works.
“I am entirely supportive of the superintendent and what she intends to do as far as optimizing our current staff, and setting them up in the best possible way,” he said. “The process will carry itself forward.”
