Looking for new director

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety will be looking for a new director, as Dave Northrop is stepping down next month.

The 47-year-old Northrop was named dean of students at Eastwood Elementary School. The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education chose Northrop from a field of nine candidates for the newly created position, which replaces the job of assistant principal.

District officials said the dean of students is a 41-week paid position, resulting in a savings over an assistant principal position and its full-year salary. Previous assistant principal Larry Smoker retired in June.

Northrop joined the Sturgis department in 1988 and was named its director of public safety in 2004.