It’s going to be a big night for Four Peaks Elementary School and Fountain Hills Middle School, as the Fountain Hills Unified School District Governing Board will consider both a possible merge of the two entities, as well as a recommendation for a new principal.

Earlier this year, current Principal Anita Gomez announced she would be resigning from her position at the conclusion of the 2016/17 academic year. The local district posted that the position was available and, according to Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sweeney, received applications from about a dozen individuals.

At the Governing Board meeting scheduled for this evening, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the District Learning Center, Dr. Sweeney will recommend the consideration of Linda McKeever for the position.

“A committee consisting of parents, community members, students and staff met on April 19 to interview three candidates for the position of Four Peaks/Middle School principal,” reads the agenda’s backup material. “From the interview process and recommendations from the committee members, administration is recommending Linda McKeever.”

The Board will consider approval of offering a contract to McKeever at tonight’s meeting. If approved, McKeever’s tenure at the school will begin July 1 of this year.

Merger

Oddly enough, if offered the job, McKeever might not technically be principal of the Four Peaks Elementary School/Fountain Hills Middle School, as the Board will tonight consider a merging of the two sites.

Both entities have operated on the same campus for the past six years, with divided bell schedules, professional training, etc. At the April 12 Board meeting, current Principal Anita Gomez, Superintendent Sweeney and Director of Transportation John Flynn discussed the benefits of merging the two schools.

“[Operating two sites on the same campus] creates some challenges for parents and causes a staggered or lengthened schedule for classified and administrative staff,” explains the agenda item’s backup information. “Operating as separate entities inhibits efficiency and reduces a variety of opportunities for students and staff.”

The merge, if approved, would create a common start and end time for all grades on the campus.

“In terms of scheduling, campus supervision, increasing opportunities for student participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and professional development and collaboration, merging the two entities into one contributes to improvement in each of these areas,” continues the recommendation.

After considering offering a contract to a new principal for the site, the Board will next consider rearranging said site into a single entity at tonight’s meeting.