New principal at Shadle

Herb Rotchford will become the new principal at Shadle Park High School this fall, replacing Tom Gresch who has accepted the principal position at Cheney High School.

Rotchford has been the principal at Sacajawea Middle School for the last 14 years. “There’s lots of history there, deep relationships and a wonderful staff. It was a great place to be for 14 years,” said Rotchford.

Rotchford was approved for the position at the school board meeting on July 14. “There’s going to be a lot to learn, and in a hurry. Shadle is a progressive school, with a strong purposeful staff that wants to do all they can for the kids, not only academically but socially as well,” said Rotchford.

Rotchford is a Spokane native. He graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1965 and got his bachelor degree from the University of Washington.

He began his teaching career at Glover Junior High in 1973 and coached at Shadle for 10 years. He said this new position will give him a chance to reconnect with the Shadle community.

After 30 years in education, Rotchford, 56, says that retirement doesn’t even enter his mind. “I have to keep moving and have a purpose. What better purpose than to educate young people?” said Rotchford.

Paula Ronhaar, most recently an assistant principal at Lewis and Clark High School, will replace Rotchford as principal at Sacajawea, where she served as assistant principal before going to Chase Middle School and LC.

Mt. Spokane gymnastics survives

It appears that the gymnastics program at Mt. Spokane is safe, at least for now.

The school board had considered dropping the program and replacing it with slow-pitch softball, but because of parent and staff feedback, the administration recommended at the July 20 school board meeting to continue the gymnastics program. Questions about the participation levels and availability of facilities for practices continue to be a concern. Because this is a continuation of an existing program no formal board action was required.

Mead School District Superintendent Steve Enoch said that new practice facilities, closer to the school, will make it easier to transport the students, but the district will continue to assess the program.

When Mt. Spokane opened in 1997, it appeared that gymnastics in Mead School District was going to be dropped. The season began with no coach at either Mead or Mt. Spokane high schools. After the season began, a coach was found and the program was back in operation as a co-op program on the Mead High School campus. Because of the situation, Mt. Spokane didn’t purchase gymnastic equipment and converted the planned gymnastics room into a weight room. The co-op situation lasted for three years and eventually the girls from Mt. Spokane utilized a private gym in Spokane Valley for daily practice.

Citing a lack of equipment, facilities, and a head coach, in addition to low participation, a proposal to replace the program with slow-pitch softball was presented. A survey conducted in 2003 at Mt. Spokane indicated that slow-pitch softball ranked third behind volleyball and basketball in interest.

The board hopes to hire a new head coach for gymnastics within the next few weeks.

Head Start signups

A free movie and enrollment for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program will take place at 9 a.m., Aug. 21 at the Garland Theater.

This state and federally funded program gives children a “Head Start” with their education.

Eligibility for Head Start/ECEAP/EHS includes:

• Families with children ages newborn-5, with priority given to children who are 4 by Aug. 31, with a limited number of those 3 and under.

• Families with low income.

• Families with children with disabilities.

• Foster and kinship families

Bring verification of child’s age (birth certificate or medical coupon), family income verification and immunization records.

Call 533-4800 for enrollment information, to locate a site near you, to request an application and for additional information.