W ade Lawrence, who’s been interim principal of Coast Union High School since Jan. 17, is expected to be named to that position permanently at the monthly meeting of Coast Unified School District trustees Thursday, April 19.

Chris Adams, superintendent for Coast Unified School District, said Friday, April 6, that Lawrence came out on top during a 40-candidate search that ended earlier that day.

District trustees are to vote on hiring Lawrence as principal during their meeting at 7 p.m. at the Old Grammar School, 1350 Main St.

Lawrence, a social sciences teacher who has taught at district schools since September 1993, would replace permanently former principal Karl Dearie, who in January was promoted to be fulltime assistant superintendent in charge of personnel and accounting functions.

That move was made to facilitate a smooth transistion as current business manager Sharon “Cookie” Henslin is to retire in July after more than two decades working for the district.

Lawrence received his bachelor’s degree in science from UC Santa Barbara in 1991, and his master’s in educational leadership and administration from Cal Poly in 2011. He has a preliminary California administrative credential.

The avid cyclist lives in Templeton with his family. —Kathe Tanner