By Lori EhdeSchool Board members have hired a new principal for the middle school and high school in Luverne.They offered the position to Donna Judson, currently principal of Kenyon-Gleason High School in Kenyon, and she has accepted.Judson’s first official day on the job will be July 18, and she said she’s eager to start."I loved the town and I was very much impressed with how well everything was kept up," she said Tuesday, when asked why she applied for the job in Luverne. "People were so friendly."More than that, she said the school system in Luverne was what she was looking for."The school is beautiful," Judson said. "I was very much interested in the size of the school. I like to be in a school district where I can get to know all the kids, and the size of Luverne is very appealing."In the Kenyon-Wanamingo district there are 75 students per grade, compared with roughly 100 per grade in Luverne.She said getting to know the students and the community ranks among her most important initial challenges. She and her husband, Terry, who is self-employed in personal investments, are looking to buy or build a home in Luverne. "I hope to be a principal you’ll see out and about town," she said. "My husband I hope to be involved in the community … We look forward to the facilities and opportunities in Luverne."Judson has a bachelor’s degree from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., a master’s degree from Mankato State University and a specialist’s degree from Winona State University.She’s been principal in Kenyon for two years, and prior to that she was assistant principal in Fairmont for two years.In addition, Judson has 24 years of experience teaching physical education and adaptive PE. One-third of that time was in the elementary grades, one-third in middle school and one third in high school.She’s also coached volleyball, basketball, track and dance team.Luverne School Board will meet today at noon to formally approve Judson’contract, which sets her annual salary at $87,500.The middle school-high school principal position in Luverne was vacated by Gary Fisher, who was hired last month to fill the district’s superintendent position.Former Luverne Superintendent Vince Schaefer resigned from the post after six years in Luverne after accepting an offer for the superintendent position in the Beresford, S.D., district.