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Othello hires and reassignments: McFarland principal named athletics director; standards-based grading pilots continue
Summary
Superintendent staff announced administrative reassignments across the district including a new director of athletics and student engagement for grades 7–12, McFarland principal transition, and continued standards-based grading (SBG) feedback sessions.
The Othello School District announced several leadership changes and said work continues on a standards-based grading review that staff will present to teachers before the board receives a full update.
Carlos Gonzales, currently principal at McFarland Middle School, told the board he accepted a new role titled director of athletics and student engagement for grades 7–12. Gonzales said the position will be based in the district’s technical building on the Othello High School campus and will oversee athletics across McFarland Middle School and Othello High School. “I asked me if it's still something that I would do and, specific to what is now being titled the director of athletics and student engagement, for 7 12,” Gonzales said.
Will Von Brock will succeed Gonzales as McFarland principal; the board heard that Von Brock and district staff spent full days meeting with McFarland staff to plan the transition. The board also announced Eliza Fish as the incoming principal at Hiawatha; Fish was previously assistant principal at Skootenay and is scheduled to meet that staff for transition work.
Standards-based grading and staff feedback Superintendent staff said they met with teachers piloting the Empower SBG platform this year and duplicated courses in Skyward to compare teacher experiences. The district plans all‑day staff sessions: a McFarland session this week and a high‑school staff session on the 20th to gather feedback before presenting recommended SBG improvements to the board. The superintendent asked the board to let staff complete teacher briefings before the board-level update.
Recognition and morale The board began the meeting with student recognitions for McFarland’s Technology Student Association; advisors and students received certificates and a trophy for Tech Bowl third place at state. The board also presented a challenge coin to Devin Lewis for leadership supporting TSA and standards-based grading pilots at the school.
Ending: District staff said they will return to the board with proposed SBG changes after the staff feedback sessions and will continue the principal transition activities over the coming weeks.
