Principal positions change in school district

BONNERS FERRY — From the school board to administrators, new faces and familiar faces in new positions will greet students this fall.

New school board trustees Mike Weland and Nichele Whittaker started their four-year term at the July 9 meeting.

Several administrators resigned and shuffling is occurring to cover all positions. The high school principal and special education director resigned. The curriculum director is taking a leave of absence and the position has not been filled yet.

“Now is a good time to cut positions, we don’t have to fire anybody,” said Supt. Richard Conley at the July 9 school district trustee meeting.

Jim Nash won’t be commuting between Mt. Hall Elementary and Naples Elementary to be principal at both schools. Instead, Nash will be the principal at Mt. Hall Elementary, along with the special education director and migrant program director.

The new Naples Elementary principal is Steven Morton, prior vice-principal at the high school.

Morton remains the athletic director and is the new Title I director.

“Outlying schools wanted an administrator in each building,” said Board Chairman Melanie Staples. “A lot of work for them. We hope it is a good scenario.”

Principal Dick Behrens retired at the end of the school year and David Miles is the new Boundary County Middle School principal.

Football coach Casey McLaughlin and cross-country coach Paul Bonnell resigned and replacements are being sought.

New basketball coaches will also be taking to the court. The girls’ basketball coach is Chris Chatburn and boys' basketball coach is Brian Woods.

• In other school news, parents and students should expect an increase in meal prices. Elementary school meal prices increased ten cents and secondary school meal prices increased five cents.

The increase is necessary to keep federal food supplement programs in place in the school district. Federal regulations require a balance of funding between federal programs and meal prices, said Conley.