Waimea Middle School principal unexpectedly replaced

By COLIN M. STEWART

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Parents and students learned this week that their director of four years would no longer be at the helm of Waimea Middle School.

Friday was John Colson’s last day at the conversion charter school, said Usha Kotner, chairwoman of the state Charter School Review Panel.

“I unfortunately am not at liberty to talk about what is happening there, because it is a confidential personnel matter,” Kotner said Wednesday.

Students were informed of Colson’s departure during a Tuesday assembly, according to an open letter to the community on the school’s website by Megan McCorriston, executive director of Waimea’s Local School Board.

“Mr. Colson’s tenure brought much needed stability to the school and allowed for it to become a more integrated part of the Waimea community,” McCorriston wrote online. “Please join us in wishing him the best in his future endeavors.”

An executive search has begun for a new principal, she said, and plans are being made to provide interim leadership for the remainder of the academic year.

“A new principal is anticipated to be on board in June following the end of the current school year,” McCorriston said.

She added that the school’s board anticipates many people in the community will have questions and concerns, and is therefore planning a parent meeting “in the near future.” Immediate questions or concerns may be directed to McCorriston, she wrote.

Sean Marsh, the father of a sixth-grader at the school, said Wednesday he and other members of the community were shocked by Colson’ sudden departure and upset about the way in which they were notified.

“We just kind of found out about it through word of mouth on Monday, but they never told us,” he said. “They had a meeting with (the students) the next day, and (my daughter) told me they didn’t answer any of our questions. … Since then we still haven’t received anything. I think they handled it wrong.”

Marsh also praised Colson’s dedication to the school and to its students.

“This man had an open-door policy,” he said. “Anyone could come and see him. He’s the type of principal that wants the family to get involved.”

Colson did not respond to a message left at his home Wednesday afternoon.

Sen. Malama Solomon, who had been contacted by a number of upset parents, said it would be unlike Colson to leave the school midyear. Solomon said Colson had been on a three-month contract that recently expired, and that he had been interviewing with other schools on Oahu, for personal reasons.

She said Hookakoo, the school’s board, dismissed Colson.

“To dismiss a principal whom the community respects, (midyear), I don’t think that’s appropriate,” she said.

Solomon contacted all of the Hookakoo board members asking them to reconsider their decision and reinstate Colson through the remainder of the school year.

A letter provided to Stephens Media said Hookakoo completed Colson’s annual review less than four weeks ago, giving the principal a 4.8 out of 5 rating.

“Seems like an ‘A’ to us — i.e., his performance was more than satisfactory — now this?” the letter said. “Further, Mr. Colson has been a progressive stabilizing influence working with teachers and staff, and our students are making significant academic progress in spite of huge financial constraints that required cutting 38+ positions.”

Staff members questioned the board’s ability to make such a move.

“This is not collaborative — was this action even legal without consulting with us?” the letter asked. “Further, how could they do this to our students in the middle of a school year — so disruptive and destructive? This is not putting kids first.”

The letter called for a community meeting in which all of the Hookakoo board members are in attendance.

Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.