District 279 Leadership Changes for 2012-2013 School Year

With the first day of school rapidly approaching, students and parents can expect to see some new faces at area schools and district office.

Here are some of the changes happening around the for the 2012-2013 school year:

Weaver Lake Elementary

• Former Principal Dennis Palm assumes the role of Principal at following the .

Basswood Elementary

• Patrick Smith succeeds Palm and will be the new Basswood Elementary principal. Smith comes from the and is a graduate of Osseo Senior High.

Fernbrook Elementary

• Jeremy Willey will be assuming the role of principal at . Willey comes from the where he was also an elementary school principal since the 2008-2009 school year. Burnsville Patch Willey left the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district to be closer to his Plymouth home. Wendy Biallas-Odell left the principal position to become director of Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Standards for the district.

Maple Grove Senior High

• Former Assistant Principal Peg Vickerman retired at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. For the upcoming school year, James Donovan assumes the assistant principal role at the senior high. Donovan was an assistant principal at the Osseo Senior Area Learning Center.

Educational Service Center

• Osseo School District 279 Assistant Superintendent of Leadership, Teaching and Learning Keith Jacobus has left the District 279 after . He was with the district since 2010.

• as Assistant Superintendent of Leadership, Teaching and Learning. Her previous work in education includes curriculum and instructional leadership, teacher preparation, and professional development, according to the Osseo School District. 

• Assistant Superintendent Rich Melvin is taking an extended, five-year leave of absence. His position was redesigned for the position of executive director of human resources. The redesigned position does not require superintendent licensure, according to previous interview with a district official. During his leave, Melvin does not receive a salary but does have medical insurance access. No replacement has yet been found for his position.

Palmer Lake Elementary

• Former 16-year Maple Grove Junior High teacher Margo Kleven was named assistant principal at Palmer Lake Elementary in Brooklyn Park. Kleven spent the last six years as an ATPPS specialist in the district.

Edinbrook Elementary

• Nanette Yurecko was recently approved as the new prinicipal at Edinbrook Elementary in Brooklyn Park. 

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter