Lawrence High School’s outgoing principal is on the verge of landing a new job closer to home.

Dick Patterson, who has lived in Topeka during his nine years at LHS, said he expected to be hired in June as principal of the Auburn-Washburn school district’s alternative high school program.

“I’ve always wanted to have an impact on youth,” Patterson said Tuesday. “To focus on a smaller group of students with a smaller group of faculty is really exciting to me.”

Patterson, principal at LHS for six years, is under contract with the Lawrence school district until the end of June.

Pending approval by the Auburn-Washburn school board, he’s expected to sign a one-year deal to manage the alternative program in that district. It has about 55 students, compared with the LHS enrollment of about 1,300.

Steven Nilhas, superintendent of the Hill City school district, has been hired to replace Patterson at LHS.

Patterson said he was ready to turn the high school over to the new principal and welcomed an opportunity to take on new challenges.

“I feel like my tour is over there,” he said of LHS. “I just can’t express my gratitude to the community and the school district for allowing me to be principal of one of the quality high schools in the state.”