Search on for new high school principal

The first week of the new school year is nearly in the books, and Boulder City High School is still without a new principal.

But even without a permanent principal in place, district officials are confident things will run smoothly while it searches for a replacement for former Principal Kent Roberts, who left for Green Valley High School a few weeks ago.

Assistant Principal Amy Wagner, entering her fourth year at Boulder City High, will serve as interim principal while the search continues for a new one.

“We were told that Kent left the school in such good shape,” Clark County School District spokesperson David Roddy said. “With the team he had and the experience they have, that was a decision we felt comfortable with, having Amy run the school until we get a principal selected.”

After weeks of preparation, Wagner said the first day of school went great.

“We have great students and an exceptional staff who worked very hard getting ready for the first day of school,” she said.

But a smooth return to class didn’t come without its share of challenges as the district faces a teacher shortage. The districtwide shortage trickled all the way down to Boulder City.

“The most difficult part is that we are short-handed,” Wagner said. “There are several administrative tasks that need to get done and normally accomplished by three people. It takes a lot of hard work and time to open a building.”

A community panel was to meet Wednesday to help find a new principal. According to Roddy, the panel consists of two parents of Boulder City High students, a support staff member from the school, and two teachers. The two teachers in the panel did not have to be from Boulder City High.

The panel is to interview applicants and pass along its decision to Mike Martin, assistant superintendent over instruction, Roddy said. Martin will relay the assessment to Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky, who will make the decision on a new principal.

Roddy did not disclose how many applicants there are.

Although principal shifts happen frequently throughout the school district, Roddy said community panels are only common in the more rural areas.

“The reason for it (community panel) is for that local input,” he said.

But according to Roddy, the panel may not be sold on just one candidate.

“They might like three candidates equally,” he said.

Although a decision is yet to be made, Wagner had some words of advice for the next principal.

“Because Boulder City is rural, the new principal needs to understand the uniqueness of the school and community and its issues,” she said. “Boulder City High School has a very committed staff with awesome students and a community that fully supports it.”

A panel recommendation was not made before the Boulder City Review’s deadline. The district will have a better timeline for hiring a new principal after Labor Day, Roddy said.

Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.