LHUSD to vote on new assistant principal
Dual enrollment also on agenda

The Lake Havasu Unified School District should know Tuesday if it has a new assistant principal at Thunderbolt Middle School.

The district’s governing board could make the decision to appoint Nicholas DePadre to the position of assistant principal.

DePadre comes to Lake Havasu City from Sacaton Middle School in Sacaton, where he was principal.

DePadre has also taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.

DePadre served on a committee in Sacaton that fought against a shift to four-day school weeks.

District Superintendent Gail Malay said DePadre was one of several candidates interviewed.

Thunderbolt Middle School teacher and Councilman Brian Wedemeyer has served as acting assistant principal as a teacher on assignment since former assistant principal Brad Gardner become the head principal at Oro Grande Elementary.

Also on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, is an intergovernmental agreement between Mohave Community College and the LHUSD for dual enrollment for high school juniors and seniors.

Dual enrollment allows high school students to receive college credits while still in high school. Classes would take place at Lake Havasu High School.

College level courses taught in the past as part of the program have included algebra, general chemistry and biology, calculus and analytical geometry, elementary and intermediate Spanish, anatomy and physiology I and II.

The dual enrollment program started in 2004 with 39 students.

“I really support our dual enrollment program,” Malay said. “It is a win-win program for the district, the college and our students.”

The district will ask the board to take further steps in ensuring students are taught by highly qualified teachers.

Assistant Superintendent Barbara Goodwin is set to make the first presentation of the districts revised hiring policy Tuesday. The revised policy would allow the district to consider candidates who are near completion of their teaching certifications or endorsements. The language revision to the policy allows for consideration of these candidates if they qualify within a reasonable amount of time, if no other highly qualified candidates are available.

In a packet submitted to board members, Goodwin acknowledges the district has not always received applications from the most highly qualified candidates.

The new language reads only those (candidates) who meet, or are eligible to meet within a reasonable amount of time, job qualifications as identified in the job description will be included for further consideration.

With approval Tuesday, both the Publishing Club and Reading Club at Oro Grande Elementary School could be eliminated. A lack of funds and participation in both clubs has led new Oro Grande principal Gardner to ask for the dissolution of both clubs. The Reading Club account has a zero balance, and the Publishing Club has a balance of $65.51.

If the board approves the dissolution of both clubs, all tax credit funds would be transferred to the school’s “All No Preference” account.

The school board meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. inside building C at the district office.

You may contact the reporter at twaggoner@havasunews.com.