COURTLAND-Craig Jones, headmaster of Southampton Academy since June 2004, confirmed he is leaving the school at the end of the current school year.

&uot;The board of directors asked me to sign another long-term contract,&uot; Jones said Monday, but he declined.

He said he wants to move to either the Charlottesville/Lexington area or the Norfolk area to be closer to family members.

&uot;As a single, divorced father,&uot; he said he decided to relocate.

A letter was sent home with students last week, and the school’s Web site included a notice that a search has begun to hire a new headmaster and that the 39-year-old school was accepting applications.

Jones, 49, said the academy’s &uot;family&uot; had created a &uot;loving and caring environment.&uot;

Said Jones: &uot;This was a very difficult decision to make.&uot;