Keystone staff, students rally around high school principal

LAGRANGE — Keystone staff and students filled the district's special Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening in support of its high school principal. High School Principal James Kohler faces a potential nonrenewal at the end of his three-year contract later this month but, during a special meeting to approve a search firm to help the district find a new superintendent, staff spoke in support of the building leader. English teacher Paula Perhot said Kohler's compassion was defined by his actions after her father died unexpectedly. She said before she could even look up, her colleagues were at her door — Kohler included. "He knew I wouldn't want anyone to see me cry," she said. "… Somehow my boss left everything … and drove me to my dad's house all the way in Lorain … James kept saying 'It's all right Paula, we'll find out when we get there.' How many people can say that about their boss?" She said the moment defined Kohler as someone compassionate and caring — the most important things needed in education. Fellow teacher Tracy Clarico said Kohler supports the high school community daily. "It would be a huge injustice to the community and disservice to the kids and I don't know if he'll ever get the pieces back of this district if you make a decision we all believe is the wrong one … I hope we can convince you," Clarico said. Board members adjourned into a lengthy executive session after the public comment period, stating it did not plan to take action afterward. Kohler's supporters gathered in the hallway outside the study hall room where the board met, talking among themselves and waiting to see when Kohler would be called in to speak to the board. One of those supporters was high school junior Colton Smith, 17, who started an online petition to keep Kohler as principal after hearing his job may be in jeopardy. As of Tuesday evening, the change.org effort had collected 689 signatures. "We were mad about that because he's treated us with nothing but respect, he's an advocate for our community and respects teachers' opinions and students' opinions and has been there for my siblings, he's been there for me," Smith said. "So I was mad and I got fired up and was like 'Well, we can do something about that.'" He was surprised when the petition drew such attention — after getting shared to one of the Wildcat-centric Facebook groups. Many of the signatures were from community members who saw posts about the issue, or alumni who graduated from Keystone years prior. Standing in the white and purple hallway of the high school, Kohler said the potential nonrenewal came out of nowhere — but since then he's received an "overwhelming amount of support." This school year marked Kohler's 11th in administration at Keystone Schools and ninth leading the high school. He is also a Keystone alumnus and has tenure as an elementary teacher, though his teaching license lapsed. He holds a five-year professional assistant superintendent license through 2027. The Board of Education is expected to vote on Kohler's contract at its May 21 meeting. The only action it took before its executive session on Tuesday was to approve a $15,900 contract with Finding Leaders to find a new superintendent. Late last month, Keystone Superintendent Dan White accepted a position to lead Revere Schools starting Aug. 1. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoyatch@chroniclet.com.