Connell to retire as RCHS principal; concept of K-12 principal approved

?Mr. Connell!? is a name that has been called out by students throughout the halls of Rogers City High School since 1982. Its familiar ring will cease to echo in those halls after the school year ends this June. James Connell tended his letter of resignation at Monday?s Rogers City School Board meeting to a room filled with audience as well as board members. Superintendent Ed Schultz began, ?We have received a letter from Mr. Connell, our longtime serving principal, announcing he intends to retire at the end of this school year after serving the district for 22 years.

?I?d like to thank Jim for his long service as principal ? he may be he longest serving (RCHS) principal as of this point,? Schultz continued. ?My recommendation is that we accept his resignation,? Schultz said before reading, in part, the letter of resignation to the board and audience. ?I?d like to retire in June,? Schultz read from the letter. ?The years of working at Rogers City High School have been very rewarding. I?ve had the opportunity to work with many fine teachers and students during that time.? Board secretary Mike Marx commented, ?I?d like to thank you for all the years you put in. Thank you sir,? he said.

BOARD TREASURER Dana LaBar added, ?You?ve been a beacon in the school district for 22 years?we will miss you.? The board unanimously accepted the resignation before Schultz addressed the issue of replacement with a new K-12 principal concept. ?As of the tenth of June, we will be without a high school principal,? Schultz began. ?The board has several options at this point?to look for another principal, or, because of youth population decline in Rogers City, we may need to change some things.? Schultz said the enrollment had gone from more than 1,300 students in 1975 to 666 in 2004, and change was something of a necessity in order to survive the times.

?When we talked internally among the administrators, we thought we?d try something different,? Schultz said. ?That is to combine principal positions for a K-12 principalship. ?We would adopt the concept of ?grow your own,?? Schultz said.

IT IS RECOMMENDED by the Michigan High School Association to look for somebody in the teaching range that would be interested in becoming a K-12 principal. It would be tried on an intern basis, according to Schultz, even offering a paid leave of absence for the person to try the position out. ?We?re doing m

any things in an administrative capacity to restructure,? Schultz continued, ?such as the business manager no longer being an employee but working under a third party vendor.? Schultz said those measures were saving money and a K-12 position would save even more money for the district.

?My recommendation to the board is three-fold,? Schultz said. ?One, combine to one position a K-12 principal, with a two-year renewable contract; two, create an assistant principal K-12 position to be offered as an intern on a one-year contract; three, charge the executive committee to set the salary schedule for the new position.?

LaBar wanted to add that the administrator should live within the district and be part of the community as part of the criteria for the position. The board agreed it could be added as either part of the job description or part of the contract. The measure was approved unanimously.