LITTLE COMPTON — While students put on new clothes for the first day of classes, Supt. Harold Devine will be wearing two hats.

Devine will not only serve as superintendent as the new school year gets under way, but he’ll also be the interim principal at Wilbur & McMahon School. Fran Blaess resigned earlier this month to become the principal of Pocassett Elementary School in Tiverton.

“Little Compton’s part-time superintendent is now full-time,” Devine said when asked what’s new about the coming academic year.

Devine retired from Acushnet Schools in Massachusetts after working in Swansea schools for 25 years. He said he recommended that the School Committee temporarily employ him full-time to serve as the superintendent and principal.

“Rather than bring in an interim and force parents and staff to make several adjustments, I thought it would be better if I did it,” he said. “I’ve been an elementary principal and a middle school principal.”

Devine said advertisements for the principal’s job have been published and it will take about a month and a half to appoint a new principal.

“If they are not available immediately, that will take some additional time,” he said.

In a letter to students’ parents, Devine wrote, “I know that I join with our staff and community in wishing Mrs. Blaess an extra measure of happiness and success in her new position. In order to minimize disruption and provide a smooth transition to a new principal, I will be increasing my schedule to full time and acting as Superintendent/Principal until an appointment is made by the school committee.”

Two teachers will join the town’s small faculty. Michael Tomasso is the new middle school language arts teacher and Gabrielle Sullivan is the new middle school reading teacher. The hirings were prompted by the retirement of reading teacher Kathleen Rioux and kindergarten teacher Mary Bottari, whose position was filled by the transfer of eighth-grade teacher Marianne Zareika.

The school building, whose original portion dates to 1929, has been gussied up for the new year.

“We’ve been able to refinish some old wood floors,” said Devine. “The school looks very nice.”

rsalit@projo.com