It’s puzzling that the South Butler County School District plans to convert the full-time principal position at South Butler Intermediate Elementary School.

Last month, South Butler Intermediate’s principal, Richard Cavett, was promoted to assistant superintendent, creating a vacancy at the school for fourth- and fifth-graders.

The plan is for David Keibler, South Butler Primary principal, to oversee both the primary and intermediate elementary buildings, with a part-time assistant principal appointed to the intermediate school.

There are about 950 students between the two schools, which has kindergarten through third grade at the primary and fourth and fifth grades at the intermediate elementary.

Some community members spoke up during last week’s board meeting. They questioned the wisdom of appointing a part-timer to oversee the school. It already has a part-time librarian, a part-time registered nurse and a part-time guidance counselor, said one of them. Why should these students also have a part-time principal?

Superintendent David Zupsic replied that the consideration was not based on finances but creating more consistency and continuity between buildings — but, for the record, the staffing changes would save the district $25,000 to $30,000 a year, he said.

By that logic, it would promote consistency and continuity, not to mention economy, by having just one principal for the entire district — which, by the way, has an administration consisting of a middle school principal and assistant principal; a high school principal and assistant principal; and a district superintendent and assistant superintendent.

And it’s not as if fourth and fifth grade pupils are part-time learners. Educational experts observe that children this age encounter subtle but significant changes. Developmental milestones at ages 10 and 11 often revolve around a child’s changing body, the need for independence and a desire to be accepted by peers. They become more aware of abstract thought and begin to differentiate between fact and opinion.

By fourth or fifth grade, pupils understand right from wrong but struggle with the concept of predicting the consequences of their decisions. And their development of these concepts most often are subtle — picked up when they observe the actions of adults rather than their words.

“These kids need a full-time role model,” a Penn Township resident told the board. Her words should be taken to heart.

The board is scheduled to vote on the personnel change at its regular meeting tonight. It should reject the idea of a part-time principal for the intermediate school.