Harris out as MLHS principal

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District is looking for a new high school principal following the resignation of Mark Harris Wednesday.

“We came to a mutually agreeable decision that his skill set is not the best fit for Moses Lake,” said outgoing superintendent Michelle Price.

Price said Harris, who was hired as Moses Lake High School principal in 2015, has been offered a teaching position in the Moses Lake schools if he wants to stay here.

“He has K-8 endorsements and a secondary science endorsement. He’s had a very successful career as a teacher,” she said. “I don’t know what his decision is.”

Harris, who has been a teacher and administrator for the last 32 years, said he isn’t sure exactly what he will do next but he also described the process as mutual.

“We had a conversation about where we are and the future of two high schools,” Harris said. “And we decided they need someone who knows the community and is steeped in its traditions and culture.”

Harris said he and the district reached the decision last Thursday, June 8 — the date of the last Moses Lake School Board meeting.

Explaining the phrase “skill set,” Price elaborated that with the addition of the second high school as well as planned upgrades to the existing high school, Harris didn’t really have the skills to lead through that kind of change.

“He and I worked together on his strengths and areas of growth, on all areas of performance, and together we decided he was not in the right position,” Price said.

“It will take someone special to lead people through the coming changes,” she added. “Leadership is about fit.”

The district has already started looking for Harris’ replacement and hopes to have someone in place as close as possible to July 1, when administrative and teacher contracts start for the next school year. The district will look statewide as well as within.

“It’s a tight timeline,” Price said.

Price will step down as the superintendent of the Moses Lake School District at the end of this month to take up the job of running the North Central Educational Service District, which oversees and assists school districts for Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, and most of Grant counties.

Current Assistant Superintendent Josh Meek will become the new superintendent on July 1.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.