FERRIDAY, La. — Huntington School board members on Saturday approved the appointment of parish public school veteran Warren Enterkin as the private school’s new headmaster, said board President Randy Miller.

Enterkin, 62, retired five years ago as principal of Vidalia Upper Elementary. The Ferriday area resident had worked for the Concordia Parish School District for 32 years as a teacher and principal in Clayton, Ferriday and Vidalia.

&uot;He’s a fine man — honest, straightforward, organized,&uot;&160;Miller said. &uot;He’s taking this job to help the school and community out.&uot;

&uot;I have a vested interest up there, since I&160;have a grandchild there and lots of friends and acquaintances do, too,&uot;&160;Enterkin said. &uot;I&160;just got excited about all the things the school had going on and has the potential to start in the future and wanted to be a part of it.&uot;

The school had been without a headmaster since May 31, when headmaster Russ Green quit after three years at the post, stating simply that it was &uot;time for a change.&uot; Assistant Administrator Emily Guida led the school in the interim.

On June 7, Jeff Walker of Kerrville, Texas, confirmed he had accepted a job as headmaster and head football coach at the school.

But Walker, a coach and teacher for 16 years in the South, declined the job days later.

Board members will meet July 10 to talk in-depth with Enterkin, and the new headmaster will probably sign his contract at that time, Miller said. Miller added that a meeting will be held to introduce Enterkin to parents and faculty, but a date has not been set.

Enterkin, who said he was honored to be considered for the post, added that he will now start to take a closer look at the school’s programs to see what changes could be made and &uot;what I&160;could contribute.&uot;

He added that one of Huntington’s top strengths is the combination of incoming personnel with new ideas — such as new Head Football Coach Gerald Reeves, hired Wednesday — and more experienced longtime faculty.

Huntington will begin the 2000-01 school year in mid-August and has registered more than 200 students so far, Miller said.