Fairview principals play musical chairs
Each building except high school to get new administrator
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published June 28, 2006

Principals at Fairview Park City Schools may feel they are playing musical chairs.

At a meeting June 20, the school board approved administrative changes at the district’s buildings as the next steps in Superintendent Brion Deitsch’s restructuring plan to streamline operations.

The following administrative assignments have been made for the 2006-2007 school year: 

• Molly Jewitt, currently principal of Lewis F. Mayer Middle School, will become the principal of Coffinberry Early Education School and serve as curriculum coordinator.

• Barbara Schutte, now principal of Coffinberry Early Education School, will become the principal of Garnett Primary School.

• Glen Stacho, currently principal at Garnett Primary School, will become the principal of Parkview Intermediate School.

• Thomas Kairis, currently principal at Parkview Intermediate School, will become the principal of Lewis F. Mayer Middle School and will serve as middle school athletic director.

• Cary Willgren will continue as the principal of Fairview High School. Lawrence Keller continues as Fairview High School’s associate principal and will serve as the high school athletic director.

Deitsch told West Life the changes are being made partly in anticipation of the opening of the new Gilles-Sweet Elementary School which will open in the fall of 2007. The superintendent said he expects to name the principal of Gilles-Sweet in January.

“It’s just an opportunity for everyone to get a fresh start,” Deitsch said.

  He compared the changes to setting the lineup for an athletic event.

“You use your player’s skill sets and abilities and then you build a team where everyone has the greatest potential for success,” he said. 

Deitsch believes the reassignment of administrators will bring new perspectives to each of the individual schools and enhance the overall educational atmosphere in the district.

In January 2006 the school board directed Deitsch and Treasurer David Chambers to “develop a plan to streamline and strategically restructure operations within the school district” to eliminate a projected $2.6 million fiscal year 2007 deficit. During the first phase of the restructuring plan, the district abolished three administrative positions, reduced the contracts of three additional administrators; eliminated 29 teaching positions, 17 support staff positions, 95 supplemental positions, and all non-mandatory overtime. 

The district is also seeking a 5.9-mill, four-year limited operational levy which will appear on the Aug. 8 ballot. A levy for the same amount was defeated by votes in the May primary election by a 57 to 43 percent margin.