King's High School's board of trustees will appoint a temporary rector later this week, to fill the leadership void that will be created when present rector Dan Reddiex departs and his replacement arrives.
Board chairman Richard Wingham said Mr Reddiex would leave the school at the end of term 1 and hoped to name his permanent replacement in late April.
However, the replacement rector was not due to start until term 3, so a ``caretaker'' rector would be appointed to take control during term 2.
Mr Wingham said he could not yet name the acting rector, but said the person was from outside Otago and had extensive experience at boys' schools.
"We're in the final stages of securing a very experienced and very highly regarded ex-principal to cover for what will potentially be all of term 2.''
He believed having an acting rector for term 2 would not create disruption at the school.
"There won't be any change for anybody at King's, in terms of transition.
"There's a very strong senior management team, and the board will be working with them to minimise any disruption to staff and students. That's been our key driver.''
Mr Wingham said the selection process for Mr Reddiex's replacement was running to schedule.
"It was obviously difficult, just with the timing with Dan resigning at the end of the year and with Christmas coming through the middle, so it was pretty tough to go through all the necessary stages of the recruitment process.
"It was easier to start clean in the new year.
"We're hoping to name the new rector at the end of April and have them start in term 3.''
After a decade at the helm of King's High School, Mr Reddiex is leaving to become the principal at Dilworth School, a private boys' boarding school in Auckland.
