THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996                 TAG: 9607260205
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

RANDALL TO SERVE AS INTERIM PRINCIPAL

Retired principal Vernon L. Randall will serve as Woodrow Wilson High School's acting principal until a permanent replacement is named later this summer.

Lindell Wallace resigned as Wilson's principal earlier this month to take a job as assistant superintendent for middle school education in Virginia Beach.

Randall, whose school career spans 34 years, retired in 1991 as principal of I.C. Norcom High. He began work at Wilson last week.

Picking an in-house staffer for zthe interim job might have given that person an ``unfair advantage'' if he or she later decided to apply for the permanent position, school district spokesman Joseph Wiggins said this past week, explaining the administration's move.

Superintendent Richard Trumble chose Randall, 65, from a list of qualified district retirees, Wiggins said. Trumble was unavailable for comment.

The district is paying Randall $275 per day, with no fringe benefits, Wiggins said. He'll serve for six to eight weeks.

Randall said he was caught by surprise when Trumble approached him about the temporary job. But Randall said he was honored by the request.

``I have to say I feel good about it,'' he said.

Being back on the job isn't tough, he said, especially since he already knows many Wilson staffers.

``I certainly don't feel uncomfortable. I feel right at home,'' he said.

This is the time of year when principals primarily deal with administrative housekeeping duties - such as scheduling classes, distributing supplies and enrolling new students.

The School Board is expected to approve a permanent replacement at its Aug. 29 meeting.

The field of candidates has not been limited to in-house candidates, Wiggins said.

The administration has mailed letters announcing the job opening to several district staffers, posted the opening on the Internet, and advertised the position on the district's cable channel and in newspapers, he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Randall by CNB