Principal moving down the road

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Brownstown Central Middle School’s next principal might be new to the district, but he’s no stranger to the community.

In fact, the corporation’s gain is a loss for another local school district.

Doug McClure lives in Brownstown but has been the principal at Seymour Middle School for six years. That’s about to change.

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“It’s a new chapter,” McClure said Tuesday night. “I have a great affinity for Seymour, both my time at the high school and the middle school. It’s bittersweet to be truthful.”

McClure has spent the past 16 years at Seymour, including 10 as assistant principal at the high school.

“You know we always used to joke that I wore purple on the outside and red underneath,” he said. “Now I’m going to have to wear purple underneath and red on the outside. I’m leaving a lot of very good friends, that’s what makes it bittersweet. But also I just welcome the opportunity to work in what has become my hometown.”

The Brownstown Central school board approved McClure’s appointment Tuesday night after Superintendent Greg Walker made the recommendation. The position opened up when Walker took the superintendent’s job at the end of 2014.

McClure made $90,601.40 in 2014 at Seymour, while the Brownstown Central Middle School principal’s position pays $90,620.

Walker said a committee composed of two school board members, three staff members from the middle school, the high school principal and an administrator picked McClure from a field of 20 candidates.

“We interviewed eight,” Walker said. “All eight interviewed really, really well. He just kind of separated himself from the pack. We just feel very fortunate to have someone of his caliber and abilities to come and lead our school.”

McClure said he came to the area after graduating from Hanover College and working at a school district in Jefferson County.

“I wound up here thanks to my wife,” he said. “I’m a transplant here. I married a Seymour girl.”

The Marion native’s wife, Tina McClure, has taught at Brownstown Central for 20 years.

Doug McClure said he views the move as a win-win for both corporations.

“I’m sure whoever they find will just be a fantastic addition as well,” he said.

In a related matter, the board approved Walker’s request to establish an athletics director’s position at the middle school.

Walker said he checked with other corporations and would like to implement a program similar to one Bedford North Lawrence Community School Corp. has in place at its three middle schools.

“They use teachers, and they get one period off a day and a small stipend,” Walker said.

That move follows on the heels of a decision the board made earlier this year to eliminate the assistant principal’s position at the middle school. That position had been held by Trent Shelton, who resigned and is entering the private workforce, Walker said.

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