Classes at Hermiston High resume Monday, but for the schools administrative team, the day caps months of preparation.

Were still tweaking things, but when you come to school on Monday, it will be a purple day, the schedule is set and the teachers will be in their classrooms, Principal Jocelyn Jones said. Students wont really see a difference.

Jones is in her first year as HHS principal. The former health and wellness teacher served as assistant principal for five years before stepping into Buzz Brazeaus position when he accepted a job as superintendent of the Central School District in Independence.

Ryan Keefauver, a former science teacher, will start his second year as assistant principal, and Dusty Porter, previously the assistant principal at a middle school in Redmond, took over Jones former assistant principal position to round out the administrative team.

We may not be long-time administrators, but weve been in the building a long time. We know whats been tried, we know where the staff wants to go, Keefauver said, referring to his and Jones teaching records at HHS.

In the Hermiston School District, administrators work a full-year schedule, not taking a summer break. When Porter began duties July 1, the HHS trio set to work outlining the strengths of each and dividing the administrative work load accordingly.

Weve been working on this all summer, but its a good thing, Jones said. It gave us the option to take a look at what we do best and divvy up the work load.

With that new organization, Jones will continue to handle curriculum and testing coordination, with the additional financial, personnel and budgetary duties of the principal role.

Keefauver will handle technology and PowerSchool, the districts student management system, as well as scheduling and student graduation progress. Porter will focus on electives, as well as career and technical education.

Weve traded some of the smaller jobs but kept our bigger focus, working on our strengths, Jones said. Were trying to work collaboratively. Its too big of a job for one person.

The trio is also working with the schools leadership team, a panel of teachers involved in some school decisions, such as revising tardy policies and attendance issues. The administration and leadership team have worked this summer to develop positive incentives for students to improve behavior, tardiness and attendance.

Jones said the procedure gives everyone at the school an opportunity to provide feedback on decisions.

In a building this size, the more brains, the better, she said with a smile. Everyone whos a stakeholder has a chance to say, Im with you or, Heres how you could do it better.

The administrators said they dont always agree but can find solutions because they are working toward the same goals.

We all have the same vision, Jones said. We have different ways of getting there, but its all focused in the same direction.

The team also said they will continue following the districts strategic plan and goals already set in place.

Its not a complete change, its just a new person steering the ship. Were already sailing in the right direction, Keefauver said.

Porter said leadership collaboration and goal continuation are signs of a healthy school.

Struggling schools have lots of changes, but here, there is a tradition of excellence, he said. Its very forward thinking, and theres a strategic plan thats been put in place and stuck to and had very positive results. Leadership is passionate about going the right direction. I think thats a place kids, parents and teachers can be proud to be a part of.