Oregon Public Broadcasting

One of Oregon’s largest school districts is shuffling the principals at half its high schools.  The move is to accommodate the conditions of a new federal grant.

In the Salem-Keizer district, the principals at McKay, McNary, and North Salem High Schools are changing places. The change is driven by the rules attached to federal School Improvement Grants.

McKay High was ranked among the lowest-achieving schools in Oregon. That meant it could receive  up to $6 million in federal funds over the next three years.

But because of the reform method that Salem-Keizer agreed to implement, the principal had to go.

District spokesman, Jay Remy, says McKay principal Cynthia Richardson has done a lot, but was willing to move.

Jay Remy: “Each one of these principals, including Cynthia, has had opportunities, which they have taken advantage of, to make real improvements at their schools. And that’s great – but we realize that they can share those skills and talents with the students at the other schools.” 

Oregon and Washington both have a number of other schools where big changes are planned, in the quest for substantial federal grants.