Lori Johnson will move from Liberty to Broadway as principal

The Central Valley School District has hired Lori Johnson as the new principal at Broadway Elementary School.

Johnson will fill the position that will be vacated by Eileen Utecht when she retires June 30.

Johnson has been the principal at Liberty Elementary and Junior High School in Spangle for the last 16 years. She has 22 years of education experience.

She started her teaching career in New Hampshire as a second-grade teacher. She later moved to Spokane and served as a Learning Assistance Program paraeducator at Rogers High School. She also was a substitute teacher, a home-hospital teacher and a LAP summer school teacher with Spokane Public Schools.

She taught first grade at Liberty Elementary School from 1991 to 1994 while she completed her principal internship.

Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, a master’s of education from Eastern Washington University and a doctor of philosophy in educational leadership from Gonzaga University.

“I am excited about the opportunity to join the Central Valley School District and look forward to collaborating on instructional issues with a larger, focused instructional team,” Johnson said.

CV board member resigns

Anne Long, a Central Valley School Board member since 2001, announced Monday she has moved out of the district and must resign her seat.

“She will be missed,” said Chairman Keith Clark.

Long said the decision to leave was not an easy one.

“I’ve been so happy the last few years with the board and the district,” she said. She did say that she felt like she was leaving the district in good hands.

At Monday’s meeting, she said a few words to her fellow board members. She told Tom Dingus that he always made sure she saw the other side of the story. To Debra Long, she admired her passion for doing the right thing for the kids. To Clark, she said he listens so much better than she does. To Cynthia McMullen, she admired the courage she has to ask the difficult questions.

It was an emotional speech for Long, who choked up a little before she concluded.

“I’ll still have my ‘I am CVSD’ button on,” she said.

In light of Long’s resignation, Superintendent Ben Small recommended to the board a tight timeline to name her replacement to avoid a conflict with the November election. The new board member will have to run for election this fall and potential candidates have until June 10 to file with the county.

“It’s important we don’t endorse a candidate,” Small said.

Applications for District 5 will be accepted until 4 p.m. Wednesday. District 5 serves the eastern portion of the district, including Greenacres and Liberty Lake. The board will then hold a special meeting Thursday to review the applications and another special meeting Friday to interview the candidates. Small hopes to have the new member in place during the June 13 board meeting.

For more information, visit www.cvsd.org or call (509) 228-5404.

Be Our Guest

The University High School drama department will hold auditions for “Beauty and the Beast” June 6 and 7 at 4 p.m. Callbacks will be June 8.

The auditions are open to all U-Hi students as well as all elementary and middle school students in the Central Valley School District. Auditioners will be expected to sing, dance and read from the script.

Drama teacher Briane Green said she will have the nonprincipal roles and the younger children sing and dance in groups. She will have some improvisational exercises for nonreaders.

Rehearsals begin Aug. 22 and performances will be Nov. 3 through 6, 10 and 12.

For more information, e-mail Green at bgreen@cvsd.org.

The East Valley High School Choral Department will present fundraising breakfast at Applebees, 12217 E. Mission Ave., today from 8 to 10 a.m.

Tickets are $7 at the door.

Piggy found

Alex Guajardo, an eighth grader at North Pines Middle School, has found the piggy bank containing $250 that was hidden in the school.

Students were asked to complete worksheets about personal finance before they were given clues to Piggy’s location.

Guajardo will also have his choice of three charities to donate another $250.