At the April 25 Fountain Hills Unified School District Governing Board meeting, members approved the issuance of contracts naming Dr. Robert Allen the interim superintendent and James Carrick as the middle school’s principal.

When current FHUSD superintendent, Patrick Sweeny, announced his retirement earlier this year, the school board posted the position of superintendent to the public on March 22.

The position was posted until April 5 and the board received 13 applications. Board members and administrators reviewed the 13 applicants and selected the top four candidates.

On April 18 two committees – one made of FHUSD staff members and the other consisting of community members – interviewed the four candidates. The board met the next day in executive session with the plan being to pick one of the four applicants.

“After hours of reviewing notes and discussing the applicants we decided that we couldn’t decide on one,” Governing Board President Edith Stock said. “We instead decided to offer Dr. Allen a contract as interim superintendent.”

Dr. Robert Allen, the current assistant superintendent of business operations, has signed a one-year contract to be the new FHUSD superintendent. Allen has been with the FHUSD for the past three years.

FHMS Principal

In his announcement that Linda McKeever would be resigning from her role as FHMS principal, Superintendent Patrick Sweeny recommend to the school board that they hire Fountain Hills High School Vice Principal James Carrick as the new FHMS principal.

“James has demonstrated excellence in instructional leadership, demeanor and judgment, work ethic and communication with staff, students, parents and the community,” Sweeny said. “I have no doubt regarding his enthusiasm and passion for continuing the efforts to make Fountain Hills Middle School the best it can be. In my professional opinion, we could not find a better candidate than James Carrick.”

The school board unanimously chose to offer Carrick the position of principal.