The search is on for a new principal at Danville High School after Pat Smith left the position to take an assistant principal’s position at Hartselle High School.

The Hartselle Board of Education approved the hire during a regular meeting Thursday night at the central office.

Morgan County School Superintendent Bill Hopkins said the opening was posted today and he hopes to have someone in place by Aug. 14. He is planning to have a committee that is comprised of himself, a central office employee, an office worker and a Danville High School teacher.

“I along with some central office workers will review the applications and select a list of finalist, who will be interviewed,” Hopkins said. “The committee will interview the candidates and make a recommendation. And I will make the recommendation to the board.”

Hopkins said he was informed about the move by Smith and Hartselle School Superintendent Dr. Vic Wilson during the interview process. Hopkins said he hated to see Smith, a Falkville graduate and a personal friend of Hopkins, leave the system.

“Both Hartselle City Schools and Mr. Smith handled the situation very professionally,” Hopkins said. “I was the one who recommended him to be the principal to the board of education. I wish him well in the future. He has my blessing. I know this was a a decision he felt it was best for his family and we encourage our employees to put their families first.”

In other business, the Hartselle board:

• approved a field trip by the HHS band to participate in the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pa. Nov. 23-28.

• approved 13 out-of-district students.

• approved salary schedules for assistant principals and maintenance positions.

• paid the following for the HHS summer basketball camp: $1,000 to boys head coach Faron Key, $300 to girls coach Gary Orr, $250 to Shane Russell for camp helper and $150 each to Elijah Garrison and Blake Harbin for camp helpers.

• approved new positions of integration technology facilitator and district testing coordinator.

• introduced a new policy that requires sex offenders to notify school officials of their presence on campus for legitimate business.

• hired Brett J. Blackwood and Haley E. Jared to wash buses for $10 per hour this summer.

• approved non-employee contract with Wanda McAbee to serve as system gifted coordinator for the upcoming school year.

• accepted resignations from Crestline teacher Lisa Wilcutt (retirement), HHS math teacher Sharon Graff, child nutrition worker Terri Hayes Robinson, testing coordinator Joan Grantland, HHS science teacher and assisitant football coach Houston Blackwood and Crestline speech/language pathologist Elizabeth “Betsy” Self (retirement, Oct. 1).

• transferred Leah Turner from Burleson fourth grade teacher to Burleson counselor.

• hired Sabrina S. Pierce as BBES pre-k teacher, Jennifer Jones as BBES pre-k assistant teacher, Caleb Graham as an instructional aide, Emily Jackson Stipe as Crestline second grade teacher, Chandler Orr Phillips as HHS JV volleyball coach, Robert Corson as a bus driver, Julie Blackwood as a Burleson fourth grade teacher, Amanda George as the HIS bookkeeper, Rodney Stansberry as a HHS instructional aide and Shannon Hopkins as a HHS math teacher.