Fifth grade teacher Jason Stowe was tapped to serve as assistant principal next year at Leland Public School.

Stowe, a native of Northport, has been a teacher for the past 13 years at Northport and Leland schools. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Western Michigan University and will complete his master’s degree in educational administration from Central Michigan University this summer.

Stowe was one of three applicants from within the district to apply for the position, created with the administrative alignment approved by the board in March.

Longtime Principal Terry Breen resigned in February when he learned of a possible administrative shake-up resulting from budget constraints for 2008-09. Also interviewed for the position were teachers Kathy Lau and Charles Gann.

Although no formal job description has been written, Superintendent Michael Hartigan has said that he will likely assume some of the duties that have been completed by Breen in the past. These include teacher evaluations and student discipline. Stowe will serve as a back up for discipline, student testing and professional learning communities.

Stowe has been successful as coach of Leland’s boys’ basketball coach for the past eight years. He is expected to serve both as assistant principal and basketball coach for the 2008-09 school year.

Stowe is expected to report to his new administrative post in August, two weeks before teachers return to the classroom next fall. Compensation for the position has yet to be negotiated.

In other administrative business, board members voted 6-0, with trustee Peggy Gauthier absent, to adopt a 2-page narrative prepared by its personnel committee after an evaluation of Hartigan last month. The committee recommend the board extend Hartigan’s contract. However, the term of the employment and compensation has yet to be negotiated.

Hartigan was given high marks in the areas of curriculum and instruction, facilities and operations management, personnel management, public and board relations, and business and fiscal matters.

The review asked that Hartigan “re-energize” the technology committee with a focus toward the integration of technology into the curriculum. Board members also asked that he continue the work started by Professional Learning Communities and the School Improvement Committee to provide ongoing curriculum improvement and staff development.