Bill would ease way to demote Seattle principals
A dozen Seattle legislators want to make it easier to demote school principals in Seattle — and Seattle only.
Seattle Times education reporter
State Rep. Reuven Carlyle wants to lower bar on Seattle principals.
A dozen Seattle legislators want to make it easier to demote school principals in Seattle — and Seattle only.
In an effort led by state Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, the lawmakers hope to amend an education bill — one aimed at helping Washington compete in the federal Race to the Top competition — by adding a section that would lower the bar for removing Seattle principals from their jobs.
If they are successful, Seattle school officials eventually could demote experienced principals from schools for a "valid reason." As it stands now, principals who've worked in any school district for more than three years can't be moved down without "probable cause," a higher bar.
In Carlyle's view, the measure would help strengthen school leadership in Seattle, where he says school officials appear to have more trouble than any other school district in the state when it comes to dealing with subpar principals.
