The Delaware Department of Education and Christina School District are at odds over who will be principals at the district’s three Priority schools.
The district recommended that the current principals of Bayard Middle school and Bancroft and Stubbs Elementary schools stay after what it called a “thorough and professional vetting process.”
But DOE disagrees. According to a Dec. 7th letter from DOE official Dr. Penny Schwinn, principals at Bancroft and Stubbs Elementary school should and must be replaced. The letter stated that under state code, principals at schools undergoing the turnaround process cannot continue on.
Bayard Principal Eric Stancell is eligible to stay on because he joined the school after the time period in which it was deemed Priority. But he will still need to undergo a series of “nominating exercises” to continue in the position of principal.
“We feel all three individuals are the right fit for their schools, their communities, and their students, and we value the stability and consistency they would provide by continuing as leaders during the Priority School process and beyond,” said Christina Superintendent Dr. Freeman Williams in a statement.
The deadline for the district to submit is Priority School plans for each school is now Jan. 7th.
