If the music stops in the principal’s office, grab a chair, quick.

One year ago Mike Sutton was the principal at Welches School, serving out
the final months of his tenure, having opted for early retirement.

Today, Sutton is back in his familiar chair, serving as interim principal,
keeping the seat warm for a newly hired principal.

In the interim, Michael McKinney’s six-month occupation of the chair has
come and gone.

McKinney announced his impending resignation last month (see Mountain
Times, March issue) to pursue his doctorate degree in education. After being
hired at the beginning of this school year, he was scheduled to leave at the
end of the school year.

However, since his announcement, it came to the attention of school district
officials that his “effectiveness at the school was compromised,” said Ken
Bucchi, Oregon Trail School District Director of Human Resources. “Once the
announcement was made, things started eroding ... (and) he recognized that.”

“We initiated it (his leaving early),” Superintendent Shelley Redinger told The
Mountain Times in an interview at her office. “We learned of his
ineffectiveness and took the lead. He agreed ... I might have had to do some
damage control if we hadn’t done anything.”

The issue came to the attention of the district through teachers saying
McKinney’s attention was divided (since his announcement to leave at the end
of the school year), according to Bucchi.

“After announcing his leaving I knew it was going to be more difficult,” Bucchi
said. “The ‘fit’ is important, especially at Welches with the close-knit
community.”

Redinger echoed Bucchi’s sentiments.

“In our search for a new principal we are paying close attention to the ‘fit’
aspect of the applicant,” Redinger said. “At Welches, being the principal is a
lifestyle, not a job.”

Still under contract through the end of the school year, McKinney was retained
as a home tutor and translator for the district.

McKinney served as principal for two years at Firwood Elementary prior to his
brief stint at Welches.