What’s Going on With Washburn Principal Search?

With the Aug. 26 first day of school barreling down on them like a freight train, the Minneapolis schools are hard at work trying to place a new principal at Washburn High School, according to Southwest Minneapolis’ school board representative, Tracine Asberry.

Asberry posted a Q&A on her official Facebook page addressing the issue, plus the school’s scoreboard installation and its vacant athletic director position.

Former principal Carol Markham-Cousins relieved former athletic director Dan Pratt of his position this spring after a dispute over how Pratt purchased the school’s new scoreboard. Markham-Cousins was then relieved of her position when large numbers of students and parents protested her decision.

“There is currently one candidate for the principal position. MPS is working closely with Washburn stakeholders to bring the search and evaluation process through to closure,” Asberry wrote. “We intend to fill the position as soon as possible – and preferably before school starts. While filling the position as quickly as possible is important, it is even more important to find the right leader for the school community.”

The district has contingency plans in case all involved aren’t able to agree on a candidate before Aug. 26.

A search is on to replace Pratt as athletic director, but in the interim, the district’s assistant athletics manager Dave Wicker will lead the school’s programs.

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