When June 30 rolls around, Mark DeFazio will be in his last day as principal at Bridgeport High School. On that same day, it will officially be the final day Matt DeMotto will serve as one of DeFazio’s assistant principals.

 

On Tuesday, the Harrison County Board of Education formally approved the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin to name DeMotto – the long-time assistant at BHS – as the next principal at the same school.

 

While the approval was quick and easy, it did create another step in the process. Now, the Harrison County Board of Education will have to fill the post created by DeMotto moving up the educational ladder.

 

According to Supervisor of Personnel for Harrison County Schools Carole Crawford, the process has begun.

 

“The hope is to have the position posted (today, Thursday, June 7). It will run through midnight of June 13,” said Crawford.

 

Like other job openings, the job posting can be found on the Harrison County Schools Web site. Crawford said that’s where certified applicants can apply for the position.

 

“If it works out as we would like, we hope to have the recommendation – pending interviews that we like to do immediately after the end of the posting – as early as June 18. If that doesn’t work, we have a meeting July 2 where a recommendation can also be voted on,” said Crawford.

 

Even if a person is hired as early as June 18 or as late as July 2, it doesn’t mean the person will begin work the next day. Crawford said the hope is to start as soon as possible, but that isn’t always possible.

 

“The actual start date depends on who is hired. Many times, they have a contract stipulating a time frame or it could be a new person that can start right away. There are some factors that doesn’t allow us to say, for certain, when they will start at this time,” said Crawford.

 

Crawford said the possibility to fill the position before DeMotto officially takes over is unusual. She said the reason for everything working toward that possibility is due to DeFazio.

 

“Mr. DeFazio gave us plenty of notice to allow for a quick turnaround,” said Crawford. “It always help when you have a time frame that’s better to work with.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows current assistant and future Principal Matt DeMotto, while the school is shown below.