Criminals have a new warden

Steve Pallack was appointed the new principal of Yuma High School in a unanimous vote of the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board Monday.

In a 4-0 vote, with member Charlene Fernandez absent, the board confirmed YUHSD Superintendent Toni Badone's choice to replace outgoing principal Jeff Magin. Pallack takes the reins from Magin starting July 1, when the latter becomes principal of Central High School in El Centro.

"As an administrator in the district for the last 15 years, I am excited," Pallack said. "We had a big year at Yuma High School with our 100 year celebration.

"We're going to keep progressing but there's always room for improvement," Pallack said. "It's the kids who are important and we'll do everything to give them the best education possible."

There were a number of talented candidates in the applicant pool, according to Badone. But it was Pallack's understanding of the district's unique challenges, his ideas for promoting student success and his positive approach to school improvement that set him apart, she said.

Pallack has served as assistant principal at Yuma High School since 2005. A graduate of Kofa High School, he followed his father's footsteps when he became a mathematics teacher there, eventually being promoted to assistant principal of athletics and later moving to the academics assistant principal position.

A creative problem solver, he is known for his collaborative work with the business community in promoting student activities and is currently a member of the Yuma High School 100 Year Celebration Planning Committee, Badone said.

Philip Townsend, one of the board members, served on a pre-screeing committee to select the next principal.

"I have great confidence (Pallack's) going to be a great principal at Yuma High School," Townsend said. "It's always nice when we can promote within and allow one of our dedicated employees achieve their potential."

Townsend said, Arizona has yet to approve a state budge, but despite the recent economic slow down the district is in good financial shape.

"Yuma High School has always operated in a fiscally sound manner and the credit for that is because of the very fine job the administration has done."

Despite concerns over the economy, Pallack said, the school will have to figure out ways to achieve their goals for academic excellence.

Regarding two other issues, uniforms and the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) exams, Pallack was confident the school was proceeding in a prudent manner with both concerns.

"We think uniforms are going to have an impact on safety and order at school," Pallack said. "Everything we do at school is to provide a better learning environment.

"We always try to get kids to meet AIMS needs, augmentation or otherwise. The bottom line is, we're just going to get in there and try (to) make things better."

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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.