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Date: 3/8/2023
WARREN — With Quaboag Regional Middle High School (QRMHS) Principal Stephen Duff named the next superintendent of the Quaboag Regional School District, there is an opening to fill his current position.
During the Quaboag School Committee meeting on Feb. 27, interim Superintendent Maureen Binienda said the job application deadline for QRMHS principal was March 1. On March 2, the applications were screened to identify potential candidates.
Binienda shared that a “good number” of candidates applied for the position. She added that there is a committee to assist in the search, including staff members who want to be a part of the process.
On March 3, after Reminder Publishing’s deadline, five candidates were selected for interviews which took place on March 7 and 8. On March 9, Binienda said there will be reference checks and on March 10, finalists will be recommended to interview with her. The new principal will be selected by March 13.
Binienda shared that it is important to have the new principal named so they can become a part of the scheduling and more before starting in their role.
Student scholar
Binienda said she was “super excited” to introduce Bryan Para, joined by his parents, for having the highest grade point average in the senior class.
Para will be recognized by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents at a dinner at College of the Holy Cross. Binienda noted that this year, Pathfinder is going back to a pre-COVID-19 tradition, where they recognize student scholars. Para, his parents, Binienda and Duff will also be attending that event.
School Committee Chair Andrew Schwenker said this is typically a “tight race” between students with a few decimal point differences, but this time, “it wasn’t even close.”
“You were head and shoulders above everybody else so congratulations on that,” Schwenker said.
Galapagos Islands trip
Duff told the School Committee that the QRMHS is seeking permission to explore the Galapagos Islands. He noted that an information night took place with over 66 students who expressed interest in going on the trip and signed up online.
Duff described it as an “educational trip” that many other school districts offer.
The Galapagos trip would take place in April 2025. “The purpose for it being two years out is that it is a bit more expensive — it’s $3,800,” said Duff. However, he explained that it provides students time to fundraise from now until spring 2025.
He went on to say that they are covered with chaperones, with the ratio being eight to one.
The School Committee unanimously approved the trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Washington D.C. trip
After receiving preliminary approval, the School Committee granted final approval for the Washington D.C. trip on March 21 to 24.
Duff said there are 83 students that are signed up for the four-day trip, accompanied by nine chaperones. The total cost per student is $746.
Senior class trip
The last trip that Duff brought forward to the School Committee was the senior class trip on May 26 — the seniors’ last day of school.
He explained that the seniors would like to go to Brownstone Adventure Sports Park in Connecticut. As it is out of state, the trip requires approval, which was unanimously granted by the School Committee.