The Liberty Elementary School District Board of Education has appointed Bruce Nieminski as the planning principal for the new Loretta Zumbro Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in August 2025.
Nieminski, who is currently the principal at Blue Horizons Elementary, will transition to the full-time role as principal of Loretta Zumbro for the 2025-26 school year.
“We are excited to have Bruce serve as the leader for our brand-new school,” said LESD Superintendent Dr. Cort Monroe. “He will serve as the planning principal for the remainder of this school year, while continuing his duties at Blue Horizons.”
Nieminski, who joined the district in 2022 as assistant principal at Blue Horizons, was promoted to principal in 2023. He brings more than 20 years of experience in education, having previously worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Illinois.
“Mr. Nieminski is the perfect person, especially when we are trying to alleviate Blue (Horizons) and we really want to entice families to go to the new Loretta Zumbro Elementary school, and I think what better way than to have the current principal at Blue Horizons go to the new Loretta Zumbro. I think that will really entice families to follow him to the new Loretta Zumbro,” said Dr. Stephanie Mohorne, LESD assistant superintendent.
“What I found with Mr. Nieminski is just an enthusiasm and a lot of wanting the plum, wanting the opportunity that principals get once in their career,” Monroe said. “We are excited to support him over the next few years as he’s establishing that culture.”
While preparing for his new role, Nieminski remains focused on his current responsibilities. Under his leadership, Blue Horizons recently earned a ‘B’ grade from the Arizona Department of Education, an improvement over the previous year.
“This will be a challenging endeavor, and I truly will miss Blue (Horizons) and the families, the children, the teachers, who are fantastic,” Nieminski said. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity to make you very proud.”
The district will soon begin a search for Blue Horizons' next principal, who will assume the role starting in July 2025. The process will include input from parents and staff to ensure a smooth transition.
“The board and I are thrilled to approve Bruce Nieminski’s appointment as Loretta Zumbro’s first principal,” Parks said. “His accomplishments at Blue Horizons speak for themselves, and we look forward to seeing the school thrive when it opens in 2025.”
The new Loretta Zumbro Elementary School will be located on Lower Buckeye Road, between Perryville and Citrus roads. The 73,512-square-foot facility will serve grades PreK-8 and will have a capacity of 900 students. The school will offer a range of district programs, including agriculture, performing arts, dual language, career preparation, leadership, International Baccalaureate, and STEAM, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The phased opening is planned for August 2025.
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