By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM — The Potsdam Central School Board of Education Tuesday discussed hiring a consultant to assist with hiring principals at their elementary and high school buildings.

“A consultant could approach current administrators, do initial screenings and interviews and recommend a pool of candidates for the school to choose from,” Potsdam Central School Superintendent Joann Chambers said.

The board appointed Julie Welch as the interim elementary principal last month and she started on Nov. 2.

She replaces Shannon Pitcher-Boyea of Malone who stepped down Monday, Oct. 26 from the position she was appointed to earlier this year, citing family reasons.

Welch was a counselor at Potsdam’s elementary school before moving on to and retiring from Colton-Pierrepont Central School as their principal. She will serve in the position through Christmas.

Wayne Walbridge will take over after Christmas. He is an administrator who retired from a superintendent position in Malone.

Randy Johnson, former K-12 principal at Colton-Pierrepont Central School, will be the interim high school principal until a permanent replacement is found.

“The board talk about how to best advertise and recruit for the positions,” she said.

Chambers said the school will use typical avenues during the hiring process like North Country This Week and the Watertown Daily Times as well as the New York State School Board Association which puts out a monthly newsletter.

“We will hire someone this spring so we have the time to make a good decision,” she said.