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 begin their new positions sometime this summer, Deputy Superintendent Paula Rogers said.

Morris, who has been the high school principal for more than four years, will oversee district transportation issues and be involved in campus construction as the director of operations and support services. He succeeds Gary Lovelace, who has been named to the new 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 still is needed.

Ford will become the district's director of student success initiatives and human resource services. She will succeed Patsy Hodnett, who retired.

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 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 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 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, she said, but 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."

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 responsibilities as directors."

The district will accept applications for a new high school and junior high school principal until May 23.

Rogers said the district has received applications for the jobs and hopes to hire the new principals at the June school board meeting.