The Pleasant Valley Middle School will have a new principal next school year.

In a 5 to 2 vote, the school board approved making PVIS Principal Kendal Askins the new principal at the middle school. She will replace Principal Jason VanVoorhis, who was made the first principal for the school district’s Bears Academy at the school board’s meeting on April 13.

Her new assignment goes into effect July 1 with a salary of $105,000.

School board directors Todd Kresge and Teresa Greggo voted no to the change in assignment.

School Board President Susan Kresge and director Delbert Zecharias were both absent from the meeting.

Both Greggo and Todd Kresge said their vote against the change was not related to Askins’ qualifications. Greggo said it was due to a policy situation.

Kresge said he voted no, because the school board was left out of the interview process. In past years, they were involved in meeting candidates. Now, they are asked to approve someone they haven’t vetted.

“It took our authority away,” he said. “We were appointed by the community to have a little input.”

Superintendent James Konrad said, “She’s done a tremendous job as the principal at the intermediate school, and we’re thrilled for her continued dedication to the community, students and staff to bring higher levels of academic achievement at the middle school.”

Konrad said that Askins’ foundation in education is as a secondary math teacher.

“This really is her wheel house,” Konrad said. “I know that she and I have talked about her desire to lead a middle school, so I think this is a perfect fit for her, for us, and for our district, so we’re very excited for this opportunity,” he said. “Strategically, we’re looking at ways to increase academic achievement especially in areas of math and also work toward vertical alignment of curriculum in both the middle school and high school.”

Konrad said the principal position at the intermediate school will be open to internal candidates for the next three days and then to outside candidates. He hopes to have someone selected in time for a vote at the May 11 school board meeting.