A few clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 45F. WNW winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph..
A few clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 45F. WNW winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Updated: March 18, 2026 @ 4:00 pm
Outside the Columbia High School athletic complex.
Chelsea Marr / file photoWHITE SALMON — Two White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) principals have submitted letters of retirement, and another two will soon move into new roles.
Columbia High School (CHS) Co-Principal Craig McKee and Henkle Middle School, alongside Wallace and Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate School (HMS/WPSIS) Principal Brian Morris, intended to both step down at the end of the school year.
McKee has served as CHS principal for 12 years, with a total of 39 years in education. Before coming to CHS, McKee served in the Stevenson-Carson School District.
Morris also worked in the Stevenson-Carson School District before coming to White Salmon, where he’s acted as principal of HMS/WPSIS for 10 years, with more than 25 years in education.
WSVSD Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn announced the retirements at the Feb. 26 school board meeting.
Looking ahead to the district’s future one campus, two school model — funded by a recently passed bond — current Whitson Elementary School Principal Todd McCauley will become the K-6 principal, and CHS Co-Principal Kelly Hume the 7-12 principal.
“We’ll maintain the structure throughout construction and transition into the new campus,” Polkinghorn said.
Two assistant principals will be hired, one primarily supporting grades 5-6 and another grades 7-8.
“Each of those two assistants will work closely with their principals to begin the work of aligning systems, structures and policies we’re preparing for our new one campus, two school model,” Polkinghorn said. “They’ll also be assigned some additional district-wide responsibilities.”
WSVSD is also exploring hiring campus supervision support to ensure consistent day to day management. No decision has been made.
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