PITTSFORD — The pupils of Lothrop Elementary School will likely be greeted by a new principal when they return from winter recess later this month.

During a special meeting this week, the Pittsford School Board accepted the resignation of Gregory West, who served as Lothrop’s principal for the past six years.

West took a medical leave of absence in December, while he underwent surgery. He returned for a brief time in January before deciding to resign altogether.

“I’m going to focus my priorities on my health and my family,” West said Friday. “It’s a really intensive job. It demands the best that anyone can offer and at this time I didn’t feel I could give them that.”

The Vermont native and St. Michael’s College graduate taught in New Orleans and Virginia before returning to Vermont as an administrator in 2007, when he became Lothrop’s principal.

“I think we came a long ways in terms of technology,” West said when asked how the school has changed under his leadership.

The school now has SMART Board interactive screens and is working toward one-to-one computers for pupils in the upper grades of the K-8 school.

West said he would miss his time at Lothrop.

“The highlight of my day was just standing outside and greeting the kids every day,” he said.

John Castle, superintendent of the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union, is currently holding down both his regular job and the principal’s job at Lothrop.

“The goal is to have a full-time interim principal in place as soon as possible,” Castle said. Tuesday night, he will recommend a candidate to the Pittsford School Board.

“I’ve been in contact with a number of people, talking with potential candidates,” he said.

If the School Board accepts his recommendation Tuesday, Castle said, the interim principal could start work Wednesday.

More likely, we’ll have someone in place when the kids return from winter break (Feb. 25),” he said.

Castle said the interim principal will be paid by the day, based on an annual salary of $80,000 to $85,000, while a search committee looks for a permanent principal to start July 1.

The Pittsford School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Lothrop Library.

josh.ogorman

@rutlandherald.com