Danville High School is planning to replace an open assistant principal position with an instructional specialist, a move that could save the independent school district around $12,000 annually.

The high school has had three assistant principals in the past, but is down to two right now. Former Assistant Principal Dr. Chris Murray was named principal of Bate Middle School in mid-October. Murray replaced former Bate Principal Sheri Satterly, who has been promoted to assistant superintendent.

Superintendent Tammy McDonald (formerly Tammy Shelton) said she had a lot of conversations with DHS Principal Haley Ralston about the assistant principal position after Murray moved.

“We do feel like that the school needs some instructional assistance,” McDonald said. “We do need somebody to help … analyze data, to help really dig deep into the curriculum that’s being used, working with teachers on professional development — which was part of what Chris was doing, but he was also doing assistant principal duties. … Haley and I feel like the instructional piece that Chris was doing — we still need that at the school.”

McDonald said the instructional specialist position will cost the district about $12,000 less in salary and benefits than the assistant principal position. “So really focusing in on what’s needed saves us a little money and it’s still going to provide us with what the high school needs.”

Ralston said not having someone to handle the instructional duties Murray had means others are being pulled away from their normal jobs to help.

“I need that person to balance (things),” she said.

Ralston and McDonald said they want to take their time hiring the new position. Ralston said they would wait until they “find exactly what we want. … We won’t fill it just to fill it.”

The Danville Board of Education approved the creation of the new position unanimously Monday night. McDonald said the job would be posted immediately.