The State College Area School District is bringing its intermediate and senior high schools together under one principal to unify students.

At a special meeting Monday night, the school board created a new administrative system that places the intermediate high school, 650 Westerly Parkway, and the senior high school, 653 Westerly Parkway, under the direction of one person, said Patricia Best, director of planning, research and communications.

The changes will take effect next year. School officials said they will begin their search for a new principal later this month and expect to announce their appointment by April.

School Board President William Moyer called the reorganization a "positive step" toward eliminating duplication of assigned duties.

"(The restructuring) is an attempt to get ninth and 10th grade, and 11th and 12th grade to feel like a four-year school rather than two two-year schools," Moyer said.

Other plans include using a new gymnasium, using recent additions to the senior-high facility for assemblies, and combining activities such as the newspaper and yearbook.

A director of student activities and information services also will handle several administrative functions such as scheduling, attendance and extracurricular activities for grades nine through 12, Best said.

Currently, the district has six full-time administrators and one part- time administrator for the two schools. The new plan will elevate the part-time administrator to full-time status.