Worthington's two newest principals were on hand to meet the Worthington Board of Education on Monday.

Moses Hubert took over as interim principal at Granby Elementary School and Linda Strong took on the same position at Wilson Hill Elementary on Dec. 9.

They replace Linda Dawson, who is retiring as Granby principal, and Pat Reeder, who is retiring at Wilson Hill.

Hubert and Strong are retired principals from Columbus Public Schools. Strong has also been a principal in Dublin and last year served as an interim principal in Hilliard.

Salary information was not available on Tuesday and was not on the agenda at the board meeting because they are being paid by county funds. The superintendent can spend funds from the county without the approval of the school board.

Superintendent of Schools Melissa Conrath said she decided to hire interim principals because it is difficult to find qualified administrators who are able to leave their current positions in the middle of the year.

In the spring, the district will advertise for permanent successors for Dawson and Reeder. The positions will be advertised and staff and parents will be involved in the interview and hiring process, she said.

Also at the Monday meeting, the board:

• Recognized community volunteers who campaigned for Issue 49.
• Commended 123 students who earned advanced placement scholar awards from the College Board on the basis of their performance on the college-level advanced placement program exams. The highest award, the national advanced placement scholar award, went to Suyang Li of Thomas Worthington High School and Vivian Chang, Joy Jing, Harika Rayala, and Yucheng Zhang of Worthington Kilbourne High School.
• Appointed Dawn Valasco to the Worthington Libraries Board of Trustees. She will fill the vacancy created when Marty Jenkins' term expires Dec. 31, 2009. The term will run through Dec. 31, 2016.