Williams pupils return from break to find principal gone

Williams High and junior high staff and students left for the mid-year break with one principal and came back to a new one.

Williams Unified School District Superintendent Judith Rossi would not say whether John Arreguin resigned or was dismissed, calling it a personnel matter.

Sources inside the district said the decision was administrative.

Arrenguin took over as principal of the newly configured high school and junior high campuses at the start of this school year.

Kathy Wheeler, a retired administrator and former superintendent in Red Bluff, has taken over duties as interim principal at both campuses, Rossi confirmed Wednesday.

Rossi said Wheeler will serve as principal for both campuses, what is now called Williams Secondary School, for the remainder of the school year.

Wheeler was not avalable for comment.

Arreguin came to Williams from Vallejo and was principal at three other high schools before that.

As Arreguin addressed the student body on the opening day of school in the fall, Rossi described the school new year as one of "change and challenges."

Rossi said the changes, including those in the administration, were designed to "provide more support for our students and more support for our instruction."

How the administrative shakeup will impact that goal, and the efforts to improve troubled academic testing in recent years, is uncertain.

Rossi declined an opportunity for an interview, citing a busy schedule and not wanting to comment on the Arreguin matter.

Arreguin replaced Dan Flannagan.

There are more than 560 students on campus.