For students at Nelsonville-York High School, the start of the 1999-2000 school year has meant more than new teachers, new classrooms and new friends. This year, there is also a new face in the principal's office.

Tim Flesher recently was hired as principal of the school.

Flesher received his education from Marshall University, Ohio University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, relocated to Nelsonville from Seleneville, where he spent three years as principal of Southern Local Junior and Senior High Schools.

Flesher began his career as a guidance counselor at South Carrol High School, but made a career change when he was hired as assistant principle of Warren High School, in Vincent.

In 1986, he moved to the East Coast to become the principal of Plymouth High School in Maryland. Since then, Flesher has served as principal for Fairfield High School in Lancaster, Caldwell High School in Noble County and East Canton High School in Canton.

"He's doing a good job. It's kind of rough coming into a new situation," said Tim Watkins, dean of students at Nelsonville-York High School.

Flesher said one of his goals this year is to help the school renew its full accreditation in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

"If you continue your full accreditation it makes it easier for students to be admitted into colleges and universities," Flesher said. "It validates your curriculum. Those are the two main reasons. It's not a requirement, but it's nice."

To renew Nelsonville-York's accreditation, Flesher said the first step will be to submit a written school improvement plan to the association. After the plan is tentatively approved, a review team made up of teachers, principles and supervisors from other schools will visit the high school and evaluate it for full accreditation.

Flesher said he also hopes to open communication with the school's faculty and students by getting students involved in more leadership roles and arranging for students to present their ideas to teachers and administrators outside of the classroom.

"One way (to open communication) is to hold meetings on a more regular basis, create a teacher revisory council and establish a school leadership council. (It would be) made up of leaders of the school teams, clubs and extracurricular programs (and would) meet with the teachers," he said.

Flesher expressed interest in upholding the school's high standards.

"I want to carry on the fine traditions of this high school as it already is and be as innovative and creative as possible," he said.