Salt Lake School District addresses rumors of West High principal’s leave
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Days after West High Principal Dr. Jared Wright was suddenly placed on leave, the Salt Lake City School District addressed rumors and speculation.
On Monday, Jan. 13, a spokesperson with the Salt Lake City School District confirmed with ABC4.com that Assistant Principal Wayne Culley had been named “Acting Principal” at West High. The spokesperson said the school was in good hands but did not elaborate further.
The school district said they are required by board policy and state and federal laws to provide employees with due process and to protect the integrity of those processes. In a statement released on Friday, Jan. 17, the school district said any further comments about Dr. Wright’s leave would be “inappropriate.”
The sudden change in leadership without more details, however, led to speculation and rumors. Among those rumors was that Wright was reportedly placed on leave due to concerns he and others reportedly shared related to school safety at West High.
USU student in custody after hours-long dorm evacuation
The Salt Lake City School District emphasized that the two were unrelated and hoped to dispel the misinformation.
“We take the safety of our West High School community – and all of our school communities – very seriously,” the district said in its statement. “We are fully in support of our employees bringing forward their safety concerns, as we all share the same goal of having our students and employees learn and work in the safest environments possible.”
The school district said it will continue to work alongside the West High School administration and staff to address any safety concerns that have been raised.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
#Salt #Lake #School #District #addresses #rumors #West #High #principals #leave