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Barry takes reins at Southwick-Tolland Regional School District

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



SOUTHWICK On July 1, a new man sat behind the superintendent's desk at Southwick-Tolland Regional School District (STRSD).

Last week, Dr. John Barry took the reins from retired Superintendent Thomas Witham. According to Barry, his transition has been smooth but also very busy.

He explained that his first week was dedicated to familiarizing himself with the district, meetings with principals, learning his way around town and understanding the administrative day to day in the STRSD.

"I hope that I can be a contributor and hope I can make a productive transition and help people continue their work for kids and for programs [while] at the same time help the district move forward with its priorities," Barry said in an interview with Reminder Publications.

He noted that certain district goals have already been set, including the implementation of full-day kindergarten beginning this fall, as well as the proposed building project currently being reviewed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The project requests MSBA funds for building a new Early Childhood Education Center in order to alleviate overcrowding at Woodland Elementary School.

Barry said he is also looking forward to conducting meetings with school and town officials in order to understand their goals for the district in the coming year. He added that as part of his entry plan he will begin formulating his own goals for the district as he becomes more acclimated.

"I've been very impressed with him," School Committee Chair James Vincent said of Barry's transition.

He noted that Barry has also made a productive transition into his role with the School Committee as well.

"The committee is very impressed," Vincent said. "We think we got a good find in the new superintendent."

He explained that the committee's top priority right now is to complete all outstanding contract negotiations, including nurses, the grant writer, curriculum director, paraprofessionals, special education director and cafeteria workers.

Charles Condron, secretary of the School Committee, said Barry and the committee will also be focusing on the proposed building project. He noted that thus far the new superintendent "has a very good understanding of how these things work."

"We're extremely hopeful that he is a good as we think he is because we're quite sure that he is," Condron said.