Search underway for Mid-Prairie Middle School principal

The search has begun for a new principal at Mid-Prairie Middle School.

Superintendent Mark Schneider told the school board Monday night that he is working on putting together a hiring committee to review applicants and conduct interviews.

'We're identifying staff members to be on the committee,” Schneider said. 'I am also planning on using a group of students as part of this process.”

He said that community members and up to three school board members will be part of the committee.

Schneider explained what he is looking for from the committee.

'They will identify the values, beliefs and skills we'd like to see in a middle school principal,” he said.

Middle School Principal Marc Pennington, who has been with the Mid-Prairie school district for 17 years, recently announced that he will step down at the end of the current school year to seek another career opportunity.

Schneider said that the district has been advertising the position both internally and externally.

'We've received about 20 applications so far,” he said.

Schneider said that they would whittle the pool down to about six finalists, who would be interviewed and given school tours over several days in March.

'The interviews will probably be after spring break,” he said.

The district also plans to hire a permanent principal for the virtual academy, which is a half-time position.

Last summer, Frank Slabaugh was named interim principal of the virtual academy and continues to serve in that capacity.

'We have not opened the virtual academy to outside candidates,” Schneider said. 'One internal candidate has applied.

'It probably won't be as robust a process as with our regular attendance centers.”