DISTRICT FIRES PRINCIPAL DUE TO CONTINUED VIOLENCE

DISTRICT OFFICIALS FIRED THE PRINCIPAL OF HART MIDDLE SCHOOL YESTERDAY AFTER TWO MONTHS OF CONTINUED DISORDER AND VIOLENCE.

CHANCELLOR MICHELLE A. RHEE'S CHIEF OF STAFF, LISA RUDA, INFORMED KISHA WEBSTER THAT SHE WAS BEING DISMISSED AT A MEETING HELD YESTERDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION TO THE VIOLENCE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AMONGST STUDENTS, THERE HAD ALSO BEEN REPORTED ASSAULTS ON AT LEAST THREE TEACHERS.

WEBSTER IS EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED BY A CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR, BILL KEARNEY, WHO HAD BEEN SERVING AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S DIRECTOR OF PRINCIPAL RECRUITMENT.

WEBSTER, 37, WAS THE FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MACARTHUR MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. SHE IS ALSO THE THIRD PRINCIPAL TO BE REPLACED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

HART WAS ONE OF NEARLY TWO DOZEN D.C. SCHOOLS PLACED IN FEDERALLY MANDATED RESTRUCTURING FOR FAILING TO MEET BENCHMARKS FOR MATH AND ENGLISH TEST SCORES.

SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST