Hutto ISD Superintendent Doug Killian said his career move to Pflugerville ISD is bittersweet after spending seven years as a Hippo. The announcement came from Pflugerville ISD Monday night that Killian will become the new superintendent there. After being named the lone finalist Monday, state law states PfISD must wait 21 days before it can officially offer Killian a contract. “It has been a privilege and honor to work with Hutto ISD staff the past seven years," Killian said. “It is bittersweet because I have grown to love this district and the Hippo Nation. I will miss the relationships and great work our staff does with students.” HISD board of trustees President Connie Gooding said the district will begin the search for the next superintendent once Killian’s resignation is received. Due to the 21-day wait for PfISD, Killian will not submit a resignation until then. Gooding, who served on the HISD board for six of the seven years Killian has been superintendent, said the bar has been set high by Killian. "On behalf of the Hutto ISD board of trustees, we offer our congratulations to Plugerville ISD on its selection of Dr. Killian to serve as their superintendent,” Gooding said. “Dr. Killian is a champion of building relationships not only within the schools and the community, but also around the state. Personally, I value his experience, honesty and his trust.” Under Killian’s leadership, HISD has grown to more than 7,000 students, was recently named a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, and was named to the College Board’s AP Honor Roll and the Gaston Caperton Opportunity Honor Roll. He joins a district with more than 24,000 students. “I am proud of the accomplishments at Hutto ISD, and it’s all because of the incredible community and staff,” Killian said. “My mom used to tell us when we moved in the military that we weren’t losing friends, we were gaining an opportunity to make more friends. I am looking forward to making more friends in Pflugerville while still being close to my friends in Hutto.” Coming to a contract agreement with Killian in three weeks will close an unexpected chapter for PfISD, officials said. On Dec. 7, former Superintendent Alex Torrez said he would resign at the end of his contract, which would have been in September. On Dec. 12, Torrez was placed on paid administrative leave by the board of trustees. On Feb. 10, PfISD announced a separation agreement was reached with Torrez. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.