Dr. Nicholas' Final Day At North Middle School Likely February 10

Students, teachers and parents at will likely not say goodbye to their principal, Dr. Tabia Nicholas, in the first half of February.

On Monday, Human Resources Director Christiane Standlee recommended that the board approve her resignation with her final day falling on Feb. 10. Nicholas accepted a position as Director of Instruction with the Waukesha School District in December.

Nicholas originally requested to complete her final day Jan. 20, but administrators felt it was best for the district to approve a later date to ease the transition of leadership at the school. The School Board will vote for final approval on her resignation Jan. 23.

“We feel that in order to give a sound and appropriate transition plan, that we would ask for Dr. Nicholas to stay until Feb. 10,” Standlee said.

The extra time would allow the person eventually hired by the district to give their employer two weeks notice. It would also give that person five days to get up to speed in their new position, and work directly with Nicholas. The remaining five days would keep Nicholas "on call" in a sense, to attend to any other issues that could spring up early in the tenure of the new principal.

Administrators considered looking internally for a temporary replacement, but ultimately settled on the Feb. 10 resignation date.

“Given where we are at in the current point of the year, we just felt this would be a good compromise,” said Board Member Gina Palazzari, who is chair of the Personnel Committee. “It may not be exactly what Dr. Nicholas had hoped for, but Waukesha has clarified they are OK with this decision.”

Nicholas declined to comment during the meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Patricia Greco, who successfully underwent treatment for breast cancer, is currently reviewing hundreds of applications for Nicholas’ position, which flooded in after the job was posted. The district plans to interview candidates on Jan. 20, and could make an offer that evening or the following Monday on Jan. 23.

Whoever the district eventually hires will have big shoes to fill, according to board members who recognized her years of service to the district and the community well before she became the principal at North.

“Dr. Nicholas, we are going to miss you. You have served the middle school so well. We want to thank you for your service,” said Board Member Lori Blodorn. “You’ve been a very strong principal and a very strong force over at the middle school.”