Randy Zito

HAMPTON -- The word "interim" will no longer be used before Randy Zito’s title as Winnacunnet High School principal.

The Winnacunnet Cooperative School Board officially named Zito as principal at its Tuesday night meeting.

"I’m very pleased," said Zito. "It was something that I was hoping to accomplish before I retired."

Chairwoman Susan Kepner said the board officially offered Zito a one-year contract at the Dec. 13 meeting.

The board discussed the possibility of conducting a search for a new principal, but Kepner said it unanimously felt as if it already had a good principal in Zito.

He served as interim principal for the last seven months after former Principal Ruth Leveille’s contract was not renewed.

Zito says he plans on continuing the goals and objectives he has already set for the school.

"We want Winnacunnet High School to be one of the finest schools in the state," said Zito. "We want to remove that distinction placed on us that we are a 'needs improvement’ school. And we want to continue improving our math, reading and writing scores."

Zito began his career as an English teacher at WHS in 1976 and was promoted to assistant principal in 1982.

He left in 1993 to become principal in Newmarket and later in Westbrook and Kittery, Maine.

Zito returned to the high school last year as vice principal, overseeing the school expansion and renovation projects.

School Board member Brenda Quackenbush said she voted for Zito because he loves Winnacunnet.

"I think what impressed me the most about Randy was his ability to remain calm and bring everything under control with a lot of chaos with the building project," said Quackenbush. "Even if we did a full-blown search, I don’t think we would find a better choice."