More deck-chair shuffling

From the MMSD:

For immediate release Thursday, April 19, 2007

Six elementary schools to have different principals

Six elementary schools will have different principals next year in a series of transfers and changes within the Madison School District. The principals who are transferring have been at their current schools from four to ten years.

The list of new assignments, by principal, with current school and length of service:

Deborah Hoffman to Lincoln from Franklin (10 yrs.)
Beth Lehman to Hawthorne from Lincoln (6 yrs.)
Catherine McMillan to Franklin from Hawthorne (10 yrs.)

Michael Hertting to Lapham from a leave of absence
Kristi Kloos to Lake View from Lapham (4 yrs.)

Joy Larson to Allis from Marquette (4 yrs.)

Allis Principal Chris Hodge and Gompers Principal Sherrill Wagner will retire this summer, and Lake View Principal Linda Sweeney will take a leave of absence for career exploration. Hertting will come off a similar leave; previously he led Orchard Ridge for five years. Vacancies will be filled within the next few months.

"We believe these assignment changes are good for the students, the staff, the principals and the district," said Superintendent Art Rainwater. "Last year, we shifted six other elementary principals after stays of similar length."

Parents at each of the schools were notified yesterday. The changes will take place over the summer in time for the Tuesday, September 4 start of the new school year. Each of the principals will assist her successor in the transition to make it more effective and efficient.

Constant shuffling of principals damages the effectivenss of the MMSD. All the rhetoric about building relationships amounts to nothing but words, when these actions speak louder.

The superintendent named no principal at Marquette. Apparently, he plans to "consolidate" Lapham and Marquette regardless of whether the board votes for it or not.

With the uncertainty and stress about staff cuts and school closings, the changes could not come at a worse time.

Is the superintendent hell-bent on destroying the MMSD?

Posted by Ed Blume at April 19, 2007 9:11 AM
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