The process for selecting a new principal for Lewisburg School is under way and school leaders hope to have someone in place by May.

The position, which was posted on February 26, already had 16 applicants.

The job of principal at Lewisburg came open in November when former principal Barrett Nelson resigned suddenly citing “emotional strain as a result of the recent events” as the reason in his resignation.

Logan County Schools associate superintendent Janet Hurt was assigned as acting principal. Nelson was granted his request for a transfer and a new position was created for him at the alternative school. However, Superintendent Marshall Kemp said Nelson is no longer at that position either and is no longer employed by Logan County Schools.

To get the selection process under way, the Lewisburg Site Based Decision Making Council went through training on the process on Friday. Applications for the position will be made available to the council on April 5.

Kemp explained that one tool they use in choosing a principal is the Principal Insight Assessment from Gallup. This helps identify those people who have the talents, skills and abilities and potential to be successful at a principal.

The council will also come up with their own criteria for candidates and decide on questions they want to ask the candidates. The council will then narrow down the applicants further and begin scheduling interviews which are to be conduced April 16, 19 and 20. Kemp said they hope to interview around six people for the job.

It’s been almost four years since a Logan County K-8 school hired a new principal. The most recent principals hired were Elisa Beth Brown who was hired as principal of Chandlers in May 2006 and Paul Sansom who began as principal of Adairville in August of 2006.