HALLSVILLE — Two Hallsville Independent School District principals will be leaving their campuses to take on other roles of leadership with the district.

High School Principal Brian Morris and Junior High School Principal Eve Ford will each transition to their new positions sometime during the summer, said Deputy Superintendent Paula Rogers.

Morris, who has been the high school principal for more than 4 years, will oversee district transportation issues and be involved in campus construction as the director of operations and support services. Morris will replace Gary Lovelace, who has been named to the newly created position of director of facility planning and development. Lovelace will oversee the construction of the new facilities from the bond election passed in November.

Lovelace's position is not permanent. Superintendent Greg Wright said the position has been authorized for the life of the bond issue. When construction is completed in 2011, the district will evaluate the position to see if it is still needed.

Morris said he is excited about his new position. "I see this as an opportunity to have an impact on a larger number of kids," Morris said.

Applying for the position was not a simple decision, he said. He argued with himself about what he could do for the district and what he could do for the high school campus. He said he applied after a lot of prayer.

"It was harder than I really thought it would be to tell (the faculty)," Morris said. "It'll be hard to leave the high school."

Ford will become the district's director of student success initiatives and human resource services. She will replace Patsy Hodnett, who retired . Ford said the position will let her work with district programs aimed at helping students succeed as well as work to recruit qualified people to work for the district.

Ford said she has been the junior high principal for nine years and was an assistant principal at the campus for two years.

"I see this as a growth opportunity," Ford said.

She said she loved the time she spent leading the junior high campus, and she is proud of how the campus works as a team. Leaving the campus will be sad, but she said she is looking forward to serving the district in a new way.

"It was a difficult decision," she said. "I think Hallsville Junior High is a very, very special place to work. It's very much a part of my heart and my life."

Superintendent Wright praised the work of both principals and said he looked forward to their continued work with the district.

"Eve and Brian certainly deserve the job promotions that they have received," Wright said. "Individually they both bring to the table many outstanding abilities that will benefit them in their new roles and responsibilites as directors."

The district will accept applications for a new high school and junior high school principal until May 23. Deputy Superintendent Rogers said the district has already received applications for the jobs, and the district hopes to hire the new principals at the June school board meeting.