The Weldon City Schools Board of Education may appoint someone to fill unexpired term of member Jerry Simmons, who was named principal of High Point Central High School last week.

Halifax County Board of Elections Supervisor Kristin Smith said when the term is up that seat would be placed on the ballot.

School Superintendent Elie Bracy said Simmons has two years left on his term. “I don’t know when he’s actually going to be leaving to go to Guilford County.”

School board Chair Pattie Cotton could not be immediately reached for comment today.

The High Point Enterprise reported last week Simmons recently completed his fourth year as principal of Hertford County High in Ahoskie. He will take over at Central High upon his release from Hertford County, Angelo Kidd, western regional superintendent, said Friday.The Guilford County Board of Education approved the appointment Thursday.S

Simmons succeeds Revonda Johnson, Central High principal since 2005. Earlier this month, Johnson took an administrative post in Peoria, Ill. Johnson was named 2007 “Best in Class” Secondary Principal of the Year for leading the school to higher academic achievements by meeting both federal and state testing standards. Johnson earned $92,000 a year. 

When he became principal at Hertford County High, the school had a high staff turnover rate, which has stabilized since he has been principal. Simmons led the high school from a 35.4 percent ABCs performance composite in 2006 to 78.8 percent for 2010. “That is unbelievable,” Kidd said. “He has a proven track record, and we are excited about him coming to High Point.”

Central High passed the 2010 Adequate Yearly Progress. The school’s ABC of Public Education score was 69 percent.
Simmons previously served as principal of Rich-Square Creecy Elementary in Rich Square and Conway Middle in Conway. He started his career in 1992 in Weldon as a classroom teacher.