Three new principals named to schools in reorganization

The Clark County School District on Tuesday named three new principals for schools undergoing reorganization for 2011-12.

Chaparral and Mojave high schools and Elizondo Elementary School were required to change leadership to comply with the conditions of federal School Improvement Grants being sought by the district.

Dave Wilson, principal of Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, will succeed Principal Kevin McPartlin at Chaparral, near U.S. Highway 95 and Flamingo Road.

Antonio Rael, principal at Fremont Middle School, will take over for Principal Charity Varnado at Mojave, near Goldfield Street and Washburn Road, in North Las Vegas.

Keith France, principal at Lincoln Elementary School, will succeed Principal Alyson Jones at Elizondo Elementary School, near Goldfield Street and Lone Mountain Road, in North Las Vegas.

All principals will remain at their current assignments through the end of the school year. Incoming principals must begin assembling their new schools' staff for next year. The federal grant limits reorganized schools to keeping only 50 percent of their employees.

France, next year's Elizondo principal, said he is keeping an open mind. "Anybody who puts their name in I will take seriously," said France, 42, who has been an educator for 17 years, including 14 years in the district.

Rael, 34, the principal of Fremont for the past three years and a district employee since 2002, said he was excited by his new assignment.

"It's very much a dream opportunity for me to go in and help the students and community achieve to their fullest potential," Rael said.

He wants to reorganize Mojave around the career theme of engineering, but said the plan will take a year to develop before it can be implemented.

Wilson, the next principal of Chaparral, was not available for comment Tuesday.

Western High School and Hancock Elementary School are also undergoing reorganization. Western Principal Neddy Alvarez and Hancock Principal Jerre Moore were allowed to keep their jobs because they have been at their schools for fewer than three years.

The federal grants would provide about $850,000 per year for three years to improve academic achievement.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.