Search to begin to replace James Warfel at the middle school.
By: Paul Koepp
The school district has a new student services director, but Crossroads South Middle School has lost its principal.
That’s because James Warfel has been named to the post to help at-need students following the retirement of George Scott, effective Aug. 1, district officials announced Tuesday.
The director of student services administers special education programs, speech and language services, and mental health services to students throughout the district.
Superintendent Gary McCartney said Tuesday that the district expects to have a new Crossroads South principal named by August.
"Given that the timing of this vacancy occurs so close to the beginning of a new school year, we are moving quickly and will not employ a large or lengthy process," he wrote in an e-mail.
Dr. McCartney said that an interim principal would be named if a qualified successor is not found, but he expects qualified candidates to apply for the position, which was posted Tuesday.
District spokeswoman Rebecca Leonard said the search would probably concentrate first on candidates within the school district.
Dr. Warfel has spent more than 38 years in public education, mostly as a special education teacher, curriculum director and assistant superintendent in several Pennsylvania school districts.
He was named principal of Crossroads Middle School in June 1999 and became principal of Crossroads South when the middle school split. It will be difficult for him to leave the school, he said Tuesday.
"I’ll miss the daily interaction with the kids," Dr. Warfel said. "It’s a place that brings a lot of joy into my life, and it has an amazing staff."
He said he wanted to continue Mr. Scott’s work in "working with the kids in the school district who most need our help" and in "maintaining a safe school environment."
Dr. Warfel will make $137,178 as student services director, the same amount he would have made as principal in the upcoming school year, according to Ms. Leonard.

