Former Assistant Principal Scott Meyers was selected to serve as the 2014-2015 interim principal following the school board’s decision not to renew former Principal Joann Karetov’s contract (for reasons that Superintendent Rob Metz says cannot be legally released).

After the month long process of finding a new principal, Scott Meyers said he looks forward to take on the position of principal.

“I am excited for this year,” he said. “We have some new additions that are helping us take a look at our curriculum and I am excited to see the work we will produce this year both from the students and how we work collaboratively as a district.”

Meyers, who served 13 years in the district in roles such as middle school science department head, high school summer school teacher, and most recently high school assistant principal, said he already has several initiatives to focus on for the school and community this year.

“My goal for next year is to bring the teachers back to a school year that feels supportive,” Meyers said. “I would like to regroup the staff and support them to progress particularly in student achievement, graduation rate, and in terms of acknowledging equity.”

With Meyers’s previous position of assistant principal open, former high school Director of Students Kari Schwietering was selected by the district through an internal posting to cover as interim assistant principal.

Schwietering, a graduate of Park who returned in 2002 as a special education teacher and has served as director of students for the last three years. This year former Special Education Department Head Lauren Buxton will temporarily serve as director of students.

Schwietering, excited for her new role, said she wants to connect with as many people as possible.

“My goal for this year is to connect and build relationships with as many students, staff and families as well as the community at large,” she said.

Despite the need to fill the principal role this past year, Metz said all the new positions were only posted for internal candidates and are only for the 2014-2015 school year until permanent positions are selected.

“I decided that wasn’t enough time to do a full thorough search for a full time permanent high school principal to get us through this year so we have time to do a full search. We needed someone who already knew a lot about St. Louis Park,” Metz said.

According to Metz, around this upcoming January, the district will interview stakeholders to find the qualities they want in the new principal and then advertise to the public for the permanent job. By March, Metz says the candidate interview process should begin. Because the principal role opens up after this school year, Meyers could apply for permanent principal.

Although Meyers expressed interested in becoming permanent principal he said that his top priority is to get through this year first.

“Am I interested in being principal for more than a year? Absolutely,” Meyers said. “There is a reality that this is a one year position because it’s interim, however, the high school is going to be here long after a year and I hope to be involved with the high school long after a year in either place.”

Even though this school year the principal, assistant principal and director of students will all hold their new positions for this year only, Metz said it was beneficial that the high school had familiar faces leading the administration.

“The nice thing about all of them is that I think they are well liked, honest, trustworthy, and they already know many students, parents and staff, so I am confident that they will do a great job shepherding us through this school year,” Metz said.