Some parents of Evergreen High School students wonder why vice principal Jackie Lewis was not hired to be a small learning community principal at the school.

Lewis applied to be principal of the Technology, Engineering and Communications Academy set to open in September.

Eric Hong, who as a young immigrant attended English as Second Language classes in the Highline district, was hired for the position.

Current principal Gail Barnum will continue as coordinating principal, but each of the three small schools on the Evergreen campus will have its own principal in September.

Evergreen parent Rick Solomon told board members at a May 23 meeting that the district "has made a huge mistake" in not hiring Lewis to head the technology academy.

Solomon said in Lewis' 13 years at the school, he has been the district's most outstanding employee.

"(Lewis) has street credibility," Solomon said. "Older teens relate to him."

Solomon said if district officials do not reconsider the hiring, Lewis should be given an equal position in the district working with high school students.

Superintendent John Welch said he also thinks highly of Lewis but isn't sure of Lewis' assignment for the next school year.

"My intent is to retain him at a commensurate position," Welch said.

Solomon, a Burien attorney, charged the district lacks African-American principals.

"The numbers aren't there," said Solomon.

A district spokesperson, Catherine Carbone Rogers, said of 32 principals, two are African-American, two Asian and one Latina.

Among assistant principals, three are African-American, including Lewis.

The district has hired three new principals, including Hong, and others are leaving so the numbers will change next year, Rogers said.

Based on the October 2005 enrollment report, 39.5 percent of Highline's students are white, 23.6 percent, Hispanic; 20.8 percent, Asian or Pacific Islander; 13.9 African-American and 2.2 percent, American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Projections for 2009 estimate that 32 percent of Highline students will be Hispanic; 31 percent white; 21 percent Asian; 14 percent African-American and 2 percent Native American.

Eric Mathison may be reached at 388.1855 or ericm@robinsonnews.com