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SANDY — An Alta High assistant principal who has been on leave since the Canyons School District launched a racism investigation has taken a job at another school within the district.
Effective Monday, Mark Montague is an assistant principal at Butler Middle School in Cottonwood Heights. Corrie Barrett, former assistant principal at Butler, has taken Montague's old job at Alta, said district spokesman Jeff Haney. Butler has 960 students and feeds into Brighton High School.
Haney called the move a "personnel decision" and wouldn't say if it was related to recent incidents of racism the district has reportedly uncovered at Alta.
The district took action last month when an Alta High junior wore a white pillowcase resembling a KKK hood on his head at a spirit rally. That incident prompted an investigation by the district which uncovered other "serious incidents" of racism at the school, including a text picture message of a burning cross that circulated days after the spirit rally. Three students were charged with unlawful acts in school, all class B misdemeanors, in connection with those events.
Both Montague and Alta Principal Mont Widerburg were placed on paid leave during the investigation. Widerburg has since retired.
Email:mfarmer@ksl.com
