Cheyenne High School principal Matthew moves to Canyon Springs

Friday, Feb. 25, 2005 | 11:23 a.m.

Cheyenne High School Principal Ronan Matthew received an offer he couldn't refuse Friday; to take over the helm of struggling Canyon Springs High School in North Las Vegas.

Matthew said he had been happy at Cheyenne, where he had been principal since 1999. But like all district employees, he knew his contract allowed the district to transfer him at any time.

"I was asked to move (to the new school) and I agreed because of that," Matthew said Thursday, his second day on the job as principal of Canyon Springs. "I'm a loyal employee of the school district I serve."

Canyon Springs became the center of a public debate over free speech earlier this year. First-year social studies teacher Ron Turner authored a play entitled "I've Got to Keep Moving" to commemorate Black History Month, and some of the school's administrators opposed the use of racial epithets in the text. Turner refused to edit the play and students rallied outside the school to support his decision.

District officials confirmed Thursday that Turner was on paid administrative leave. At the school board meeting Thursday night he said he had been transferred to teach at an alternative school and said he would fight that.

Canyon Springs' former principal, Roger Gonzalez, moved to an administrative position in human resources last week. He could not be reached for comment. Gonzalez had been a middle school principal for several years before being tapped to open Canyon Springs in August.

District officials said Gonzalez's reassignment was not punitive. Rather, he had been interested in moving to human resources for some time and decided to make the switch when the job opened up, officials said. The job opens up Jan. 26, officials said.

Canyon Springs made headlines again last week with reports that two girls had been suspended after penning a note that detailed a supposed plot to kill one of their teachers. While the girls said they never intended to take action they have been suspended and recommended for expulsion, per the district's "zero tolerance" policy. If central district administrators do not believe expulsion is warranted, the girls, both freshmen, could be referred to one of the district's alternative programs for the remainder of the academic year and allowed to return to a comprehensive high school in August.

Irvin said wanted Gonzalez's successor to be a "veteran." In addition to the regular challenges of running a high school, Canyon Springs also has the Leadership and Law Academy magnet program, with students preparing for public service careers.

Prior to his appointment to Cheyenne, Matthew was principal for three years at Western High School. He began his career in Clark County in 1978, teaching eighth-grade English.

"Dr. Matthew has a very good track record, he knows the community and he knows the children," said Irvin, noting that a large portion of the new school's enrollment was drawn from Cheyenne. "We have an exceptional program at Canyon Springs and it was important to move forward for the sake of the students, parents and staff. He was the one to make that happen."

Matthew said he had been warmly received this week by Canyon Springs' students, faculty and staff.

"This is a good school and I'm looking forward to working here," Matthew said.

The district is advertising for Matthew's replacement at Cheyenne, Irvin said.

Sunny Ellsworth, who has two children attending Cheyenne, said she was "shocked and surprised" when her sophomore daughter came home Thursday and announced that Matthew had been reassigned.

Cheyenne, like many of the district's schools had struggled to improve parental involvement and Matthew had several initiatives that had recently been launched, Ellsworth said.

"One plan let parents sign up to volunteer in the classroom," Ellsworth said. "What's going to happen with that now? Will it just fall by the wayside?"

Ellsworth said she appreciated that Canyon Springs was in need of a strong principal but that the Cheyenne school community also deserved consideration.

While it's important to find a replacement for Matthew soon so as to minimize disruption, Ellsworth said it should still be a thoughtful search process.

"Don't do it so quickly that Cheyenne doesn't get what it deserves, a first-rate principal," Ellsworth said. "My concern is what kind of candidate pool do they have to draw from halfway through the school year? I don't want someone who's just marking time until the next big thing comes along and then they're gone too."