Hopkins to Leave GHS for Promotion

By Amber Lester Friday, August 20, 2010

Grafton High School will have a new principal when school starts this fall.

Outgoing Principal Paul Hopkins has accepted a promotion in an unnamed school division, still pending approval from that division’s school board, according to York County Schools spokesperson Betsy Overkamp-Smith.

The York County School Board met for a special meeting Thursday night to appoint Royce Hart to the principal position. Since 2008, Hart has served as the associate director for school operations in the division.

Hart was hired by York County schools in 1996 as an assistant principal for Grafton High School. In 2000, he was named Principal for Operations for the Grafton Complex, which includes the high school and middle school. In 2004, he became principal at York High.

Hart’s current position as Associate Director for School Operations will not be filled. The position was cut from the 2010-11 budget and was funded this year with one-time funds.

Hopkins, who has a master’s degree from the William and Mary School of Education, was recently named a defendant in a wrongful death suit. Alise Williams filed the suit at the end of July seeking $10 million in damages following the suicide of her son, Grafton High freshman Christian Taylor. Taylor hanged himself in May; Williams contends he was bullied at school and accuses administrators of doing nothing to stop verbal abuse. The other defendants are Assistant Principal Craig Reed, Assistant Principal Karen Fahringer, counselor Joseph Erfe and school security officer Deputy Ralph Hood. Read more about the suit here.