Estimated student population: 670.
School starts: Sept. 7.
School ends: June 15.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $7.4 million.
Administration changes: Griffin School District has a new organizational structure. Principal Greg Woods will now serve as the K-8 school’s principal-superintendent. He replaces Donald Brannam, who held a part-time position and retired last spring.
Assistant Principal Doug Anderson will add special education director to his duties, and the district has hired Rebekah Keiser as its teaching and learning director, a new position. Melody Simmons is Griffin’s new finance and human resources administrator.
Website: www.griffin.k12.wa.us.
Phone number: 360-866-2515.
NORTH THURSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Estimated student population: 13,950.
School starts: Sept. 7.
School ends: June 15.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $124.3 million.
Administration changes: Alicia Neal has been hired as the district’s new director of food and nutrition services. She replaces Sharon Worgum, who retired in June.
The district also is in the process of hiring a new director of financial services and a new assistant principal at Mountain View Elementary.
Website: www.nthurston.k12.wa.us.
Phone number: 360-412-4400.
OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Estimated student population: 9,400.
School starts: Sept. 7.
School ends: June 15.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $86.6 million.
Administration changes: Paul Anders is the new principal at Washington Middle School. He was previously an assistant principal at Washington. He replaces Pat Robinson, who retired.
Condee Wood is the new assistant principal at Washington Middle School. She is a former assistant principal in the Issaquah School District and grew up in Olympia.
Website: www.osd.wednet.edu.
Phone number: 360-596-6100.
RAINIER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Estimated student population: 930.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 12.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $7.69 million.
Administration changes: Bryon Bahr has been hired as the new middle/high school principal. He is a former assistant principal at Foss High School in Tacoma. He replaces former high school Principal Wally Lis, who left to become the superintendent of the Quilcene and Brinnon school districts, and former middle school Principal Chris Pollard, who was hired as assistant principal at Stevenson High School.
Website: www.rainier.wednet.edu.
Phone number: 360-446-2207.
ROCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Estimated student population: 2,370.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 14.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $19.24 million.
Administration changes: Casey Crawford is the new principal for Grand Mound Elementary School, replacing Russ Surridge, who retired. Crawford is a former assistant principal of the Narrows View Intermediate School in the University Place School District.
Website: www.rochester.wednet.edu.
Phone number: 360-273-5536.
TENINO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Estimated student population: 1,275.
School starts: Tuesday.
School ends: June 13.
2011-12 general fund budget: $12.29 million.
Administration changes: Former Tenino Middle School Principal Rich Staley is now the district’s director of special services, curriculum and assessment.
Website: www.teninoschools.org.
Phone number: 360-264-3400.
TUMWATER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Estimated student population: 6,300.
School starts: Sept. 7.
School ends: June 15.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $60.47 million.
Administration changes: Dave Myers is the new assistant principal at Black Hills High School. He is the former principal of Yelm Middle School and replaces Chris Cain, who retired last school year.
Website: www.tumwater.k12.wa.us.
Phone number: 360-709-7000.
YELM COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Estimated student population: 5,470.
School starts: Sept. 6.
School ends: June 15.
2011-12 general fund budget: About $47.8 million.
Administration changes: Matt Piper has been hired as the principal for McKenna Elementary School. He replaces Amy Sturdivant, who is leaving to become principal at Weyerhaeuser Elementary School in the Eatonville School District.
Piper grew up in Roy. He taught overseas for several years and most recently served for six years as principal at Garfield Elementary School in the Toppenish School District.
“Even with all the wonderful experiences I have had throughout my career, I have never lost my ‘farm boy’ roots and my need to get back to my hometown of Roy,” Piper said in a district announcement. “It feels good to be coming home.”
Heidi Bunker will be the principal at Yelm Middle School. She replaces Dave Myers, who has taken an administrative position at Black Hills High School in the Tumwater School District. Bunker comes from the Shelton area, where she was the principal of Pioneer Intermediate/Middle School for four years.
In addition, Steve Bigelow was hired as director of special services, replacing Gary Potts, who retired last school year.
Website: www.ycs.wednet.edu.
Phone number: 360-458-1900.
Sources: Individual school districts and the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
