Selle to take over as interim elementary principal; first day of school Aug. 22
With the start of the 2022-23 school year only a few weeks away, the resignation of Meeker Elementary School Principal Andi Murphy has precipitated a search for a replacement. Superintendent Chris Selle said the interview committee has appointments scheduled this week, one with an internal applicant and one external. The interview committee is made up primarily of staff from the elementary school and principals from the other two district schools.
The last round of hiring for the elementary school principal position was the catalyst for some changes to the district’s hiring policies. The school board will have access to all the same candidate information as the superintendent, and will have “ultimate final approval” on the candidate selected by the committee. “They will have a vote on it,” Selle said.
Meanwhile, Selle, who has a current, valid principal’s license, will act as interim elementary school principal until the right candidate is hired. “I think we’ve learned that patience is a good thing,” Selle said, noting that if necessary, he can fill the interim role through the fall semester.
As with other districts in the state, the school has a number of open positions available: bus drivers, substitute teachers, middle school coaches, two classroom teaching positions, paraprofessionals, and two food service positions. Three people backed out of signed contracts over the summer, something Selle said he hasn’t seen before in his tenure as an administrator.
“What happens in our classrooms isn’t going to change. On Aug. 22, students are going to show up and we’re going to give them the quality education they deserve.”
Barone Middle School will have a new principal this year in Katie Johnston, who comes to the district from Moffat County.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
