Lisa Craker has handled all kinds of issues during her career as an educator.

LISA CRAKER will be the new principal for the
final year of classes at Norris Elementary.

Being principal of a “lame-duck” school, however, will be a first for the new Norris Elementary principal.

Norris was one of three elementary schools in the Traverse City school system that was targeted for closure earlier this month. The Traverse City Area Public Schools’ board of education voted in early August to shutter Norris, Bertha Vos and Glenn Loomis elementary schools at the end of the 2007-08 year as part of a cost-cutting measure.

The challenge for Craker will be providing answers to parents, and keeping staff and students energized, as Norris embarks on its 130th and final year of operation.

“My plan is to remain positive, make the best of the school year, and help as much as possible with the transition the students will be facing,” Craker said.

Craker and assistant TCAPS superintendents Dave Dean and Jayne Mohr are striving to provide information to parents concerned about the transition next year. Craker said a tentative plan involves relocating all Norris students who live east of Bugai Road to Willow Hill Elementary in Traverse City for the 2008-09 school year. Students living on the west side of

Bugai would be shifted to Long Lake Elementary.

“We’re also working on plans to provide opportunities for parents and students to visit the new schools during this school year so they can start to become comfortable with a new environment,” Craker said. “We’ll also have a couple of meetings, probably in the fall and winter, where parents can meet with the principals of the other schools.”

In the meantime, Craker said she’s not focusing on what might happen at Norris in the future.

“That’s not up to me, but what is up to me is helping the students prepare for a big transition. It’ll be tough, but we can do it,’ she said. “Challenges are good, because you grow from everything.”