Iowa City West Principal to retire at end of year

IOWA CITY - Jerry Arganbright, the principal of Iowa City's West High School, will retire at the end of the school year, he told staff and students on Wednesday.

Iowa City Community School District spokesperson Chace Ramey said Arganbright told teachers at a staff meeting after school, and parents were notified by a recorded message. Arganbright said he told students of his decision Thursday morning in a school announcement.

Arganbright will finish the school year as the principal at West, his 31st at the school. He said he retired in part to spend more time with his family.

'I knew whenever I decided to step aside, it would be a difficult decision,” Arganbright said. 'Being principal here has become my life.”

The district will start a search for a new principal after the school board approves Arganbright's retirement later this month, superintendent Stephen Murley said.

Arganbright said he also chose to retire this year to give the new principal time to settle in before the district opens Liberty High School in 2017.

Murley said Arganbright leaves a legacy of quality staff and high student achievement.

'Look at the success of the students at West High School,” Murley said. 'You look at their academic success, co-curricular and athletic success - I think that's all a tribute to the leadership of the building.”

During his tenure, Arganbright was named the 2007 Administrator of the Year by Iowa High School Press Association, given to 'outstanding school administrators to acknowledge their support of journalism education,” according to the organization's website. In 2012, the Iowa City Community School District Foundation named him, along with nine others in the district, with its Shine Award.