OTHELLO — Joe Jones has been hired as the principal at Hiawatha Elementary. Othello School Board members hired Jones at the regular meeting Monday, to the applause of a group of Hiawatha staff members.

Jones replaces current principal Heather Dyson. He has been assistant principal for two years.

“I love going to work there every day.” Jones said his goal is to encourage parent involvement, and to make school a place where kids want to go to class. “We’ve done a lot of great things the last few years,” he said.

The district will move from a junior high to kindergarten through eighth grade configuration within the next two years. “As we move to K-8 Dr. Hurst (district superintendent Chris Hurst) has challenged us to take a leap of faith. We have a staff that’s ready to leap. We’re ready to make that work happen. There are going to lots of great opportunities for growth, and difficult conversations, but we’re ready for that.”

He thanked the building staff for its work, saying that it’s a big job to be a building principal. “I want you to know that I will give it my all.”

In other business, board member Jenn Stevenson issued a public apology over comments made at the April 9 board meeting.

Stevenson didn’t detail what she said, but said it was a “derogatory comment.” While she wasn’t referencing any individual or group, “it was not an appropriate comment. Even though it was not directed at anyone it was still hurtful.”

Stevenson, sometimes fighting back tears, said she was sorry for it. “I need to watch what my words are better, and be more aware of what I’m saying.”

“There are definitely times when I’ve said things at a board meeting that I wish I could take back,” said board chair Rob Simmons. He said he didn’t think Stevenson’s words reflected what she thought about anybody, or any group.

Students from the McFarland Middle School journalism and English classes talked to the board about the journalism class, and their opinions on the impending switch to K-8.

The journalism students explained how the class works, and urged the board to keep the journalism program when the switch is made. One of the English students said she didn’t think the move to K-8 is a good idea. The second English student said he hoped challenging classes would be included in the new sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade schedules.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].