Last year, a decision on whom to put into the principal slots at Hillcrest and Janie Howard Wilson elementaries was deferred and interim principals appointed at both schools. The interim principal at Hillcrest is longtime educator Barbara Jones, and at Janie Howard Wilson, assistant principal Steven Whitaker stepped in.

According to Lake Wales Charter Schools’ Superintendent Jesse Jackson, the selection committees at both schools have requested extensions of those interim terms: for about four months at Hillcrest and for a year at JHW. And interim assistant principal April Barnhart, who was actually designated “teacher on special assignment” will remain in that post through the end of July, Jackson said. Jennifer Barrow will remain for the time being as assistant principal at Hillcrest.