Halifax County School Superintendent Dr. Merle Herndon is wasting no time making moves.
On Thursday, July 12, the new superintendent transferred Halifax County Middle School Principal Beverly Crowder to the central office. Her position will be decided at the July 23 Halifax County School Board special meeting, where board members will further discuss personnel and reorganization of the central office.
In her position as middle school principal, Crowder earns an annual salary of $86,189.
Executive Director for Instruction Dr. Melanie Stanley is being transferred from the central office to Halifax County High School as assistant principal, effective the start of the school year.
According to Executive Director for Administration Valdivia Marshall, Stanley’s current $74,500 salary will not change.
Herndon said she made the decision to transfer Stanley from the central office to the high school because “she had no school-based experience.”
“She had no school-based experience in her position and that was important to her in her educational career, something one must have. She had done a fabulous job,” added Herndon.
Stanley was informed of the news Tuesday morning following the Halifax County School Board’s closed session Monday night.
Marshall said a meeting was held Thursday afternoon, where it was decided not to advertise Stanley’s position.
The school system’s website had job postings by the close of Thursday for Halifax County Middle School principal, supervisor of student services and supervisor of special education.
With little more than a month before the new school year starts, two county schools remain without principals.
Scottsburg Elementary and Sinai Elementary principals Barbara Tune and Michael Wilborne retired at the end of the school year.
Recommendations for these two vacancies are expected to be made at the July 23 board meeting.
According to Marshall, interviews for the Scottsburg Elementary principal position and the Sinai Elementary principal position were set for Monday and Tuesday.
Candidates to be interviewed have been narrowed to 11, all within the state and some from the county, she said.
Board members said they hope to fill the two principal positions as soon as possible.