Rick A. Walsh was hired Tuesday by the Pine-Richland school board as the new principal at Wexford Elementary. He will begin the $92,000-a-year job within the next two months; a specific date has not been set.

Mr. Walsh is principal of Trinity East Elementary School in Souith Strabane, Washington County. For eight years, he taught in the Mount Lebanon School District. He received his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Penn State and a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

"I'm really excited to be part of such a fine team," Mr. Walsh told the school board. "I am looking forward to meeting the students and parents at Wexford."

Mr. Walsh replaces Yvonne Hawkins, who resigned to accept a job as the director of curriculum and instruction with Chartiers Valley School District.

• The school board will discuss its vision for expanding the high school during a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The high school soon will reach its 1,500-student capacity. The High School Expansion Committee presented a report to the board in July with recommendations on how to handle the expected 48 percent growth in student enrollment over the next 10 years.

The 44-member committee of community members, staff and students made several recommendations, but no price tags were attached. The group encouraged the school board to conduct a feasibility study to analyze the recommendations and their costs.

The board has agreed to do that but has not defined exactly what the study will cover. School board members have expressed concern about the district's debt and the cost of expansion.

Superintendent James C. Manley said tomorrow's meeting will be a time for an "open exchange of ideas."

The High School Expansion report is available at www.pinerichland.org/HSexpan/hsexpansion0708.pdf.