Davis School District is playing musical chairs with school administration.

Retirements, death, promotions and transfers have caused district officials to make transfers and appoint four interim principals in Davis elementary schools.

"We have made more changes this past month than we usually do in the spring for the next year," said Craig Poll, district elementary school director.

He said just losing a couple of principals created a domino effect responsible for the shuffle, but the district has done what's best for the most.

With strong experienced interims who have administrative endorsements, Poll is confident that the schools will continue running at the same pace while getting school improvement plans off the ground.

"We have lost some excellent principals, and they will be missed," said Poll. "But we have selected some strong (interims)."

Another shift will be coming in March when the district will have to select an interim principal for the new school being built in West Layton.

Last year, Davis only had one midyear change when the new Eagle Bay Elementary School was completed and needed to move a principal there.

The timing is tight. When changes are made in the spring, principals and administrators have four months to physically and mentally prepare for the transition, but with these changes they only had a couple of weeks, Poll said.

For next year, schools with interim principals will be schools where principals may request transfers or they will be opened up for new appointments.

Davis District changes are as follows:

• Maynard Whitesides, principal at South Clearfield Elementary, retired Jan. 1.

• Daren Allred, the principal at South Weber, moved to South Clearfield beginning Jan. 19.

• Marilyn Hales, intern and day teacher at Heritage, will be the interim principal at South Weber Elementary School.

• Dick Close, principal at Antelope Elementary, moved to Sunset Junior High as an assistant principal Jan 1.

• Jody Schaap, principal at King Elementary, has moved to Antelope Elementary.

• Pat Lusk, administrative intern at Holt and King, will be the interim principal at King.

• Kathleen Bone, principal at Windridge, moved to the district office as an elementary school director, effective Jan. 19.

• Maren Zimmerman will serve as interim principal at Windridge.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com