New high school principal and three other senior leaders start in July

What happened

At the May 12, 2026 meeting the superintendent introduced four new district leaders taking up post for the 2026-2027 school year: Dr. Gary Lowery as High School Principal at $140,900, taking over from Richard Bonkowski; Jenean Swain as an Elementary Principal at $122,500; James Nesmith as Assistant Superintendent of Per Pupil Personnel, covering student services and special populations; and Robert Rosenheim as Supervisor of Educational Technology and Innovation. Mr. Nesmith's contract runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and he also takes on the district's Section 504 and ADA coordinator, special education affirmative action officer, anti-bullying coordinator and child-welfare liaison roles.

Why it matters to families

The high school principal is the leader most visible to families of the district's roughly 1,740 high school students, and this is a change at the top of the largest school. The new assistant superintendent for per pupil personnel also holds the district's Section 504, special education and anti-bullying coordinator roles at the same time as special education enrolment is rising, so several of the routes a family uses to raise a concern now go through one new person.

The evidence

The May 12, 2026 approved minutes record the superintendent introducing all four appointments by name and role, the employment contract for James Nesmith as Assistant Superintendent of Per Pupil Personnel from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the appointment of Gary Lowery as High School Principal from 07/01/2026 at $140,900 replacing Richard Bonkowski, and the appointment of Jenean Swain as Elementary Principal from 07/01/2026 at $122,500. The same minutes list Mr. Nesmith as Section 504 and ADA coordinator, special education affirmative action officer, anti-bullying coordinator and agency liaison.

The source