Yakima schools to replace three principals, seek improvement grants

YAKIMA, Wash. — Three Yakima School District principals will be replaced this fall, enabling the district to apply for federal School Improvement Grants. 

The schools eligible for the grants — which could total as much as $2 million per school for three years — are Adams and Barge-Lincoln elementary schools, Washington Middle School and alternative high school Stanton Academy. 

Superintendent Elaine Beraza said the principals will be transferred to other schools within the district rather than lose their jobs. There’s been no decision on where they will be reassigned.

The principals are Dave Chaplin at Adams, Netty Hull at Barge-Lincoln and Lorenzo Alvarado at Washington. Principal Clinton Endicott at Stanton, who has been at Stanton less than two years, will be allowed to remain in his existing position. 

The schools are eligible for the grants because they have not met federal reading and math guidelines for the last three years. They are included in the nation’s bottom 5 percent of low-performing schools.

The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has informally told district officials that the four schools will receive grant funding, dependent on the successful completion of the grant application, Beraza said.

Successful applicants will be officially notified in April for the 2010-2011 school year. The state has identified about 50 eligible schools and has $42 million to award. 

Although today is the deadline to apply for the grants, OSPI says it will not release the list of schools eligible for them until it is approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

Should it receive grant funding, Beraza said the district would use the money to improve instructional practices through training and other means. 

— Erin Snelgrove

— This story and its headline have been changed to correct the number of principals who will be replaced.