Every student returns to classes after summer break and has to face changes, but for some Pike County Schools students, those changes will include new faces in the principal’s office.

Both Goshen High School and Pike County Elementary School have principal openings that must be filled before the school year begins, and Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, said the process has begun for both openings.

Goshen High School’s principal job became vacant when former principal Al Griffin resigned at the end of the school year to become superintendent for Demopolis City Schools.

Bazzell said he has received applications for the vacancy, and is still overlooking those applications.

“We’re still working through the process,” Bazzell said. “We have 37 applications, and we’re still in the process of reviewing those applications, and selecting candidates for interviews.”

Various educational conferences that will occur over the next few weeks will hinder the process somewhat, eliminating days for interviews to be scheduled.

“It will likely be in July before we make a recommendation to the board,” Bazzell said

While Goshen students may have to wait until the July 12 Pike County Board of Education meeting to find out who their new principal is, students at Pike County Elementary may not be in for as long of a wait.

“We’re much closer to being finished with the process in regards to the elementary school opening in Brundidge than we are at the high school in Goshen,” Bazzell said.

Bazzell said he has also received applications for the PCES opening, but some are applications for both the PCES and GHS jobs.

“We had about the same number of applicants, but some of those are applying for either open position,” Bazzell said.

However, there is a chance PCES students could have a new principal in place come the Board of Education’s next meeting, which is set for June 24.

“We might be able to get to a point where we would be able to make a recommendation in June, but I’m not sure yet,” Bazzell said.