Union High School Principal Paul Hartsig was conspicuous by his absence from the show of support for principals at the special noon Dowagiac Board of Education meeting at City Hall March 28.

That’s because Hartsig, 42, hired as principal to succeed Ken Dockerty in April 2004, is leaving to become Bridgman High School principal in June. The previous principal retired from the post held since 2000.

Hartsig, a Tawas City native, has been teaching at DUHS since 1995. He was hired from 37 candidates to lead the Berrien County high school, which enrolls some 300 students, compared to 650 in Dowagiac, where 23 applicants sought the position eight years ago.

Before Dowagiac, Hartsig taught in Galien, where his duties included athletic director.

For Dowagiac, the former science and math teacher at one time directed the migrant program.

Hartsig graduated from Central Michigan University in 1993 and added his master’s degree in education from Western Michigan University in 1993.

He and his wife Diane, a Dowagiac elementary teacher, have three children: Lewis, Mae and Millicent. They will continue to live here.

DUHS has had just three principals in 27 years with Hartsig’s eight, Dockerty’s nine and Mike Swartz’s 10.