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Date: 12/8/2021
HATFIELD – This fall has been a difficult time for Michael Wood, the superintendent at Hatfield schools. An outbreak of 40 cases of COVID-19 roiled the school community, testing disrupted classes, there wasn’t enough staff to do everything, and now the principal is leaving for another position.
The resignation of Smith Academy Principal Christopher Buckland may be the stickiest difficulty Wood faces. But how hard is it to fill the principal’s office in the middle of the school year? Wood doesn’t seem too nervous.
“It’s always a challenge to find a really talented leader,” Wood said. “It’s a little more challenging in the middle of the year. He was found by the district he is going to, so I’m optimistic we’ll find someone qualified.”
It’s not the first time Smith Academy has had to hire a principal mid-year, according to Wood. He expects applicants will be available, but the details may hinge on when they can leave their current job and the timetable of their contract with the district.
“You’re usually looking at someone who’s already working. It’s a matter of musical chairs,” Wood said, emphasizing the continuance of the current curriculum. “We’ll be able to carry on with the quality of programming we’ve had under Principal Buckland.”
The academy is already carrying on, Wood said, and returning to some semblance of normal. The period before Thanksgiving, when COVID-19 infected students and staff in six classrooms, was difficult but the National Guard troops that helped with the test-and-stay program for Covid-19 have left. The COVID dust is slowly settling. A few cases were discovered later in November, but it wasn’t as widely spread and disruptive.
“Knock on wood, right now we’re doing very well,” Wood said.
His voice brightened as he mentioned the activities resuming in the next few weeks. Sports, music and drama are back in the educational mix. The first band concert in two years was scheduled for Dec. 7.
“We hope it’s a preview of what we’ll see in the future, after flu season and COVID [-19],” Wood said. He was referring to the staging of a musical at the high school in the spring, “something they haven’t been able to do in a couple of years.”
The fall sports teams had a very successful season. Now the boys and girls basketball teams started practices, and the school looks to a return to full normal in athletics.
Wood said, “For the players and spectators, it’ll look and feel as normal as possible.”
COVID-19 is still active in the area. TruCare, a company that supports school testing efforts, will help the staff of Smith Academy with four assistants when pool testing and test-and-stay requires them. Another vaccine clinic for students and adults took place on Dec. 4.
Wood told the school community, “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible flexibility of our teachers and paraprofessionals over the last two weeks. They have played a tremendous role in making these weeks successful.”