The Oregon Trail School District will now take its third shot at securing a
principal for Welches schools.

Tim Fields, appointed to the position starting in August, 2010, has resigned.
Fields’ resignation follows on the heels of Michael McKinney’s stepping down in
mid-term of the 2009-2010 school year, after McKinney was appointed to the
position to replace longtime principal Mike Sutton who opted for retirement in
2009.

“Tim Fields’ resignation was unforeseen,” OTSD Superintendent Shelley
Redinger told The Mountain Times. In a letter to Welches schools parents, she
wrote: “I regret to inform you that Tim Fields will not be serving as the
Welches School principal next year. He has resigned for personal reasons. I
imagine this is as unexpected to you as it was to me.”

Fields had been serving as assistant principal at Rosemont Ridge Middle
School in West Linn. He has been placed on administrative leave at Rosemont.
West Linn School District Superintendent Roger Woehl would only say that
Fields’ sudden departure is considered a “personnel issue” and the district
would not comment on the reasons, according to the West Linn Tidings.

Rosemont Principal Debi Briggs-Crispin echoed Woehl’s sentiments.

“Our attorneys asked us not to make a comment,” Woehl told the Tidings.

According to the West Linn newspaper another teacher at Rosemont was
involved in the “incident” with Fields and was asked to take a leave as well.
That teacher, apparently, is back at school.

Despite launching a third search – the position has been posted – the district
will follow the same methodology for the next principal.

“It was a surprise (Fields’ resignation), but we feel the initial process was a
good one,” said OTSD Communications Director Julia Monteith. “We did a
thorough background check (on Fields) and had good recommendations from
the principal and administrators.”

Monteith indicated OTSD had no other information regarding Fields’
resignation from Rosemont.

“We can’t comment on that,” Monteith said. “They’re holding it pretty close.”
OTSD quickly pivoted into positive mode.

“We’ve had 30 applicants in two days,” Monteith said. “We will find a good
replacement.”

“We are receiving many applications,” Redinger said. “I am certain we will find
the right leader for the Welches community.”

The same interview committee of Welches staff and parents have been invited
to participate in the interviews, according to Redinger’s letter to parents.

The time line sets mid-July as the target date for the new principal’s selection,
according to Monteith.

Phone calls to Woehl and Briggs-Crispin were not returned.