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New principals detail staffing, design and family outreach as three Clover schools prepare to open
Summary
Three newly appointed principals told the Clover School District board they are finalizing staffing, programming and building finishes for Liberty Hill Elementary, Roosevelt Middle and Lake Wy High School, with Liberty Hill targeted for June 1 occupancy and Lake Wy for July 1.
Siobhan O'Brien, the new principal of Liberty Hill Elementary School, told the board the building is taking shape and staff hiring is underway as the school prepares for a June opening. "I am the principal of Liberty Hill Elementary School," O'Brien said, and walked trustees through design choices for classrooms, a multipurpose cafeteria and two fenced outdoor play areas that will include ADA-compliant swings and turf. She said construction adjustments increased green space in the playground to emphasize safety and free play. O'Brien also described a staffing process informed by more than 50 classroom observations and said the Liberty Hill PTO will hold its first meeting on Friday, Feb. 13 at the district office.
Maurice Thomas, introduced as the principal launching Roosevelt Middle School, described outreach to staff at nearby middle schools and community engagement efforts. "So far, we've had seven staff members approved for transfer," Thomas said, adding that 32 additional transfer requests were raised at the meeting. He outlined plans to assemble leadership, counseling and athletics teams, to meet weekly with district leadership during the rollout, and to involve Roosevelt alumni in preserving school history as the 9th-grade campus becomes a middle school.
Caleb Courtright updated the board on Lake Wy High School preparations, citing recently approved certified moves and active hiring for a third assistant principal and remaining coach positions. He highlighted plans for band leadership (Annne Lewis Turner as director, assisted by Ryan Hall), steps toward hosting JROTC and coordination with career-and-technical providers to shuttle students for vocational courses. Courtright said his goal is a full staff in place before spring break and stressed work on student life programming such as homecoming, pep rallies and expanded extracurricular connections.
Why it matters: All three presentations covered the same near-term objectives—finalizing staff rosters, confirming building finishes and engaging families—steps that must be completed before occupancy. Trustees and district staff also discussed interschool staffing transfers and program continuity as the district opens new campuses.
What’s next: O'Brien said Liberty Hill’s PTO meeting and a district fundraiser will be held in February. Thomas and Courtright outlined continuing weekly leadership meetings and hiring timelines; Courtright said the goal is a full staff prior to spring break.
