Forks High School Principal Rex Weltz hands off the Spartan shield to Forks High School Vice-Principal Cindy Feasel.

Forks High School Vice-Principal Cindy Feasel has been named as the new principal at the school, effective July 1.

Forks High School Principal Rex Weltz is returning to his home state of Montana. Weltz said the move is being made to be closer to his family and his home town, in the Flathead Lake area of western Montana.

The announcement was made on Monday, June 11 by Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume.

Reaume said Weltz, who came to Forks from Wasilla, Alaska, had accomplished much in since becoming principal for the 2009-2010 school year.

“He has built a safe, positive, respectful learning environment” at Forks High School, she said, adding that Weltz helped students bond closely with the school through knowing that their teachers and administrators “care about them.”

Quillayute Valley School District School Board President Brian Pederson told the Forks Forum “we wish him luck in his future position…we were upset he was leaving, the school has gotten on a real positive note.”

Pederson said the school board spoke to the school’s vice-principal about becoming principal.

“We were concerned about the change,” he said, “But with Cindy we knew it would be smooth, wouldn’t be a big transition.”

Reaume and Weltz said having the school’s vice-principal move forward in becoming principal will make the change in administration a smooth one.

“She comes in hitting the ground running,” Reaume said. “That’s best for the kids and staff.”

Among Weltz’s accomplishments were creating what’s known as Student Link, Reaume said. In the program several dozen high school students help incoming eighth graders adapt to the greater challenges of high school through mentoring them. 

Weltz also led the school through the many disruptions and changes necessitated during the construction of the new Forks High School addition, which opened for classes in January.

Educational test scores have also improved for the Forks High student body, Reaume, said during the outgoing principal’s years at the school and a coveted School of Distinction award was given to the school. 

Feasel, who joined the staff at Forks High School with her husband, Forks High School Athletic Diretor Mark Feasel, has 20 years of classroom experience in rural schools, and has been a high school athletic coach. She also served in the  Air Force and was a champion runner in college.