Nespelem school fills last-minute job openings

In an avalanche of last-minute personnel changes, Nespelem Elementary School covered all its employee bases Monday, as new Principal Debra Pankey walked the school board through a configuration of new teachers and aides.

Pankey, the school’s special education director, was hired this summer following the resignation of John Adkins as superintendent and principal. She will retain the special-ed administrative duties, but gain a teacher (Rick Mead) for teaching the students.

Teachers Katlynn Reidt and Bethany Williams notified Pankey just last week they would not be on staff for the new school year.

The school board approved several new hires, re-assignments and resignations Monday. Glenna Whitelaw will come back from retirement to teach fourth grade. Christina Christopherson will teach science and math in grades 6-8. And Leah Stiles will teach fifth grade, but can’t start until October. Moving from out of state, Stiles’ husband is taking a position with Indian Health Service.

Pankey will look for a long-term substitute to start the year, but if one can’t be found, fifth and sixth grades will be combined.

Mead will also take on the volleyball coach job.

The board approved the resignations of Reidt and Williams following a lengthy executive session, adding a note of their displeasure that the resignation came within 10 days of the start of school.

The board also OK’d the hiring of Marla Higgins as a special education paraprofessional, and Marion Ives as a special-ed/basic-ed paraprofessional.

The board also added a full-time custodian position, accepting the advice of the district’s head of maintenance.

The school will hold a welcome barbecue on Sept. 3, then hold its first full day of classes for the new school year on Thursday, Sept. 4.