Three Douglas principals on the way out

At least three Douglas County schools will have new principals by next year.

Douglas High School principal Bev Jeans' resignation will mean Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School principal Charlie Condron will move to the Minden school.

In addition, Kingsbury Middle School principal and former Douglas County curriculum chief Tom Covault has resigned because of health problems.

Teacher Patty Fore was named interim principal for the Lake Tahoe school on Wednesday.

Covault has had ongoing heart problems.

"My health is still deteriorating, and my two cardiologists have recommended extensive time away from work in an effort to address these health issues," Covault said. "Students, staff and parents deserve and need a healthy energetic principal, and unfortunately, that is not me at this time."

Douglas County School District Superintendent Pendery Clark said Covault's departure came unexpectedly.

"He regrets having to leave in the middle of the year," Clark said. "It was not expected and when I learned he was going to have to do this I tried to come up with a way to provide administrative coverage that would allow the school to continue in a smooth fashion."

In Carson Valley, Jeans announced Monday that she wanted to transfer from Douglas High.

Clark said Jeans "wanted to do something different next year. And whether that is in or out of the district, I appreciate her letting me know early on so there is no disruption."

Clark said as soon as Jeans gave her notice, she called Condron.

"I talked to Charlie and asked if he would accept a transfer to the high school. He thought about it for a while, then said, 'yes,'" Clark said.

Jeans has been principal at Douglas High since 1996. Before that, she was assistant superintendent for educational services, principal at Kingsbury Middle School and vice principal at the high school. She came to the district as a teacher at C.C. Meneley in 1987.

The middle school principal makes between $61,000-$74,000, and the high school principal makes between $63,000-$75,000, according to the district personnel office.

Neither personnel change will be official until approved by the Douglas County School District trustees March 14.

"After the board meeting, we'll be talking more about how to create a smooth transition for Charlie so he can start being involved at the high school this year," Clark said.