Glover Middle School Principal Resigns

Thu., Jan. 20, 2000

By Kristen Kromer kristenk@spokesman.com

Glover Middle School students returned from winter vacation to start a new year with a new principal.

School officials said Phillip Newsum, Glover principal since 1995, resigned Dec. 23 to pursue career opportunities outside of education.

Officials said that there had been a question of whether or not Newsum had broken some district procedures, but declined to comment specifically, saying it was a personnel issue.

“Mr. Newsum notified us before winter break that he would not be returning after vacation…There were some earlier inquiries about following district procedures and regulations and we are following up on that,” said Spokane School District 81 Superintendent Gary Livingston.

Newsum was promoted from assistant principal at Glover. He took pride in helping special-needs students fit in to mainstream middle school life. Last year he participated in an event called Disability for a Day, which allows people to experience the difficulties those with physical disabilities face every day.

For the event, Newsum spent a day in a wheelchair.

“It’s an eye-opening experience,” he said at the time. “It gave me a deeper appreciation for (special-needs students). They’re brave and courageous people.”

Don Miller, former principal of Garry Middle School and Shadle Park High School, came out of retirement at the request of District 81 to serve as interim principal until the end of the year.

Newsum could not be reached for comment.

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