New Lebanon Community School District administrators have typically had profile pieces written in the Lebanon Express.

At this point, it appears that will not be the case with new Sand Ridge Charter School principal John Leon.

The Lebanon Express learned through unofficial sources that the principal was back at the helm, more than a month after he took the job.

Leon has been working as the principal since Sept. 15.

A Lebanon Express reporter called Leon at least four times to set up an interview, just as the newspaper has done with new principals at other area schools.

For example, when Bo Yates was named principal, a reporter sat down with him for 15 minutes and asked questions regarding his education and background, and what his plans were for the school: How he hoped to improve test scores, attitudes and the relationship with the community.

The Lebanon Express did similar interviews when Superintendent Rob Hess came on board and has interviewed other administrators in the past.

Unfortunately, in this case, when the reporter finally reached Leon, he declined an interview with the paper explaining that he was "not interested in replaying the tape" and bluntly saying "I'm not interested in doing an interview with your paper."

Sand Ridge is a free, public school, an educational alternative within the Lebanon Community School District.

At the Lebanon Express we strive to bring our readers the news, and we will continue to do so. However, when we are faced with a stone wall rather than a pathway to communication, it does a disservice to our readers.

Mary Northern, director of operations at Sand Ridge, said she wants the community to be aware of the charter school and its new principal. Newspapers are the perfect way to communicate what's going on in schools to the community.

She said Leon is a great communicator, but we haven't had the chance to see that yet.

The door is open when he is ready.