MATT LUCAS, STAFF REPORTER Circleville Herald

PICKAWAY TOWNSHIP - When the new 2012-2013 school year begins, Logan Elm High School will have a new principal as the Logan Elm Board of Education approved a two-year administrative contract for Shawn Haughn at its May regular meeting on Monday.

Haughn, currently the assistant principal at Canal Winchester High School, will fill the principal’s job recently vacated by Timothy Williams, who will become Logan Elm Local School District’s superintendent in August when current superintendent John Edgar retires.

According to Edgar, a couple of characteristics stood out to the two interviewing committees, making Haughn seem like a good match for the district. These included his career as both an assistant middle school principal and an assistant high school principal as well as the research he did on the district prior to his interview.

"He had a lot of skills that we were looking for,” Edgar said.

Edgar said that Haughn is personable, is positive with students and communicates well with adults as well.

“I think communication seems to be a real strength of his,” Edgar said.

The Logan Elm Board of Education met in special session on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 to finalize their selection of a new superintendent. Debbie Shaw, President, released the following statement: 

             “Chosen from a quality pool of applicants, the Logan Elm Board of Education is pleased to announce Tim Williams as our new superintendent, effective August 1, 2012. We believe him to be a young, energetic, visionary leader who leads by example. He knows our district well. We look forward to years of working together.”

Tim Williams has been the principal at Logan Elm High School for the past 4 years. He previously served as assistant principal and classroom teacher/assistant basketball coach at LEHS and a teacher/coach at Marietta High School. He has a total of 16 years experience in education. Tim stated “It is a great honor to have the opportunity to lead the Logan Elm School District and work with a community, staff and administration that values education.”

We are working diligently on the plans for elementary restructuring for the 2012-2013 school year. The staffing assignments are complete. The elementary principals have been planning with next years’ teachers in the three K-4 buildings to create an environment specifically for primary age children with programs that support and align with young students. There will be two (2) all day, everyday kindergarten teachers in each building. Preschool will be offered at Laurelville Elementary. Intervention programs will be designed to focus on reading and math skills, including a full-time reading intervention teacher assigned to each building. Resource rooms of leveled texts and chapter books for primary age students will be available, with a variety of fiction and non-fiction materials.

The new 5-6 intermediate school structure will provide an earlier opportunity to promote strong, positive relationships among students and parents from across the district. The new arrangement will focus on the physical, social and academic needs for students age 11-13. Programs will be designed to meet their intellectual and emotional development.

Many of the details of the restructuring are still being planned. Some of the original target dates published in January have been revised. The planning issues, with new expected completion and notification dates, are: 
 

Our new messaging system, One Call Now, has the capability to send SMS text messages. We will use this capability for school closings and delays. If you would like to opt-in for this service, please send a text message with the word "Alert" to 22300. Your cell phone number must be entered in One Call Now in order to use this service. If you need to add your number, click here. Standard Message charges apply.