The Clinton Board of Education last month approved the hiring of an assistant principal for Lincoln and Douglas schools as the district prepares for major changes in those buildings starting next year. 

Superintendent Drew Goebel explains that this hiring is a critical component of transitioning Lincoln and Douglas Schools from traditional neighborhood models into attendance centers starting next year. 

The addition of an Assistant Principal marks a needed change for these buildings, which have historically shared a single administrator. Goebel notes the 14-block distance between the two schools often left teachers without immediate administrative support during critical moments. By placing a full leadership team across the two campuses, the district aims to provide an extra layer of stability for both staff and students.

Goebel emphasizes that this model ends the "bouncing back and forth" of administrators between buildings, ensuring that a leader is always physically present at each site to handle issues as they arise.

The move to attendance centers aims to better balance classroom sizes and students and teachers of the same grade into one central location.