Principal Joe Jones will stay at Selah High

SELAH, Wash. -- Joe Jones will be back.

Jones, principal of Selah High School, announced Wednesday that he will remain in his current position next school year.

"I was informed by Dr. (Debra) Howard Tuesday afternoon that she would like to have me continue to be high school principal next year, and I've happily and excitedly accepted that offer," said Jones, who is 37.

"It's great news," he said, "the highlight of everything today."

Howard, the Selah School District superintendent, confirmed Jones' appointment Wednesday. The district had previously said it would notify Jones of his assignment for next year by May 15.

"This was a good decision," she said.

"This is just outstanding -- we're ecstatic," said Chuck Zeutenhorst, who has been outspoken in his support of Jones. Zeutenhorst is the father of a Selah High senior.

"They (Howard and the school board) did the right thing," Zeutenhorst said.

Senior Trevor Heilman characterized the mood at the school as "really excited."

Students were instrumental in letting the school board know how much they wanted Jones to remain as principal by attending board meetings, marching and holding a rally.

"Our class is not a rebellious type, but we came together on an issue we thought needed to be addressed -- the whole school did," Heilman said.

Counselor Erin Wilson said the high school staff was "very happy, very relieved and very hopeful."

She gave credit to the students for conducting themselves appropriately and professionally.

"I love that they did this on their own," she said. "They felt passionate, and they weren't negative. It gives me hope for the future."

Zeutenhorst believes the student and community support for Jones had great impact.

"The reason why everyone rallied around Joe is that he has unyielding integrity, and he maintains that through all his relationships. People hunger for that piece and that's why he'll be back."

A call seeking comment from Todd Trepanier, school board president, wasn't returned Wednesday. The board meets at 7 p.m. May 14, but Jones' position won't be on the agenda because it isn't a personnel change, Howard said.

As for what she expects at the high school next year, Howard said, "I believe they are going to set a good course." She said it's time now to focus on other issues facing the school district.

Unrest had been brewing in the district since March, when Jones submitted his resignation as principal, effective in June. That came after Howard told him she didn't envision him in the role of high school principal anymore.

Several hundred community members and students attended the March and April school board meetings to protest Jones' resignation -- which was thought to be a forced resignation.

In April, Jones rescinded his letter, saying that he never wanted to leave the school and was hopeful that he could continue to be principal there.

However, until Wednesday, it wasn't clear if he would remain at the high school.

In a related matter, Howard declined to say Wednesday whether she would be a speaker at the high school graduation, June 6.

Earlier this week, students in the senior class requested that Howard not give the keynote speech and that school board members not give out diplomas.

About 175 seniors (out of a potential 210-230 graduating students) signed a letter addressed to the school board seeking changes to this year's graduation formalities.

Howard said she had not yet seen the document.

Heilman said Wednesday that his classmates still wanted the focus at the ceremony to be on celebration rather than on any school controversy.

"It's not that we don't want anyone, it's just that we're close with a lot of teachers as well as Mr. Jones and Mr. (Dan) Smith (assistant principal), and any of them as a speaker would be awesome."

Heilman added, "We all love Mr. Jones to death. We'll always stand up for him."