Superintendent Jerry Wartgow today announced the appointment of Melanie Haas as Northwest Area Superintendent and Joe Sandoval as Southwest Area Superintendent – a switch of the two area superintendents currently assigned to each quadrant.

Both Haas and Sandoval were among the four area superintendents appointed by Superintendent Wartgow when he took the job three years ago and reorganized the district into four areas.

“All of our area superintendents bring different strengths and skills to their positions and it’s time for some fresh energy and fresh perspective on issues in each area,” said Superintendent Wartgow. “We are one district working together toward three well-established goals – setting high expectations, improving the performance of all students and closing the gap between better and poorer performing students. This change will give these talented leaders some new challenges and provide a new point of view to some unique and important ideas, plans and ongoing conversations in each part of the city.”

At the same time, Superintendent Wartgow announced the re-appointment of Carla Santorno as Northeast Area Superintendent.

Last week, Southeast Area Superintendent Irene Jordan announced her retirement and Superintendent Wartgow promoted Southeast Assistant Area Superintendent Beth Biggs as her replacement. Jordan will return for one year only, Wartgow said, to assist during the 2004-2005 school year on a contract basis to provide leadership and guidance to the Department of English Language Acquisition.

Also today, Superintendent Wartgow announced the direct appointment of Bryant-Webster Elementary School principal Pat Salazar as the new Northwest Assistant Area Superintendent.

Additionally, one Assistant Area Superintendent vacancy will be posted and Superintendent Wartgow said he may announce staff changes at the Assistant Area Superintendent level sometime after that person is hired, even if that comes during the 2004-2005 school year. Currently, Ricardo Concha is Southwest Assistant Area Superintendent and John Youngquist and Richard Smith serve as Northeast Assistant Area Superintendents.

Last week, Superintendent Wartgow announced that Dave Debus, Assistant Area Superintendent for the northwest quadrant, had accepted the principal position at Lake Middle School for the 2004-2005 school year. He will serve as an Assistant Area Superintendent on Special Assignment for at least two years.

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 720-423-3414.