Local schools set to resume on August 17

Nearly 3,000 students will return to classes on August 17 at the twelve schools in the San Juan School District.
There are dozens of new teachers and administrators in the district, including a new superintendent, Ron Nielson, who takes the place of Dr. Edward Lyman.
Connie Todachinnie is the new principal at Montezuma Creek Elementary School, replacing Boyd Silversmith. Todachinnie has been a first grade teacher at the school.
Devon Gosney is the new assistant principal at Albert R Lyman Middle School. He was the assistant principal at Monument Valley High School in the past year.
The new assistant principal at Monument Valley High is Michael Tuckfield.
Ryan Nielson is the new Assistant Principal at San Juan High School after spending a year as the interim assistant principal.
Construction crews were busy putting the final touches on a number of summer projects. The school district continues to make progress on the tedious process of receiving approval from the Navajo Nation to build a new gymnasium adjacent to Montezuma Creek Elementary School.
District officials have held meetings with the Utah Navajo Trust Fund board to explore additional ideas for a new school in Bluff. Progress has stopped on construction of a new elementary school on property owned by the school district on the western edge of Bluff.
District officials report that in addition to enjoying the time off, many teachers received invaluable in-service training during the summer months.
There are new faculty and staff members at schools around the district. A multi-year trend that continues is significant turnover at the southern schools and relatively stable faculties at the northern schools.