Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 9/29/2021
SOUTHWICK – Although his last official day was Aug. 31, friends and colleagues of former Gateway Regional Superintendent David B. Hopson took some time out on Sept. 23 at The Ranch to wish him well on his retirement after 18 years at the helm.
Hopson has said he plans to spend it catching up on work at Laurel Hill Farm in Blandford, where he raises lambs, sells hay and boards horses.
“I get to do all those projects that I’ve been waiting to do,” Hopson said, except now he doesn’t have to squeeze them all in on weekends.
During a short ceremony, Michele Crane of Blandford, long-time chair of the Gateway School Committee who also stepped down this year, said she was honored to say a few words even though there were supposed to be no speeches at the casual afternoon reception.
Crane said she and Hopson worked together for so many years, and Hopson, who served as a member and chair himself of the Gateway Regional School Committee before becoming superintendent, was always respectful of everyone’s time and effort. She said she was “so grateful of the relationship and trust,” and many former and current School Committee members were present.
“We were all grateful for his ability to listen, and his care and concern for us as people, and his patience. At the heart of the matter was the kids,” she said.
Crane said as a teacher who started in the 1980s and created an agricultural program in northwestern Connecticut, it was sad for Hopson to be far away from kids. She said she could sum up the conversations they had and the decisions they made with what he would often ask, “What’s best for the kids.”
“For 18 years we had the right person speaking out for the kids,” Crane said.
Superintendent Kristen Smidy, who started at Gateway at the beginning of August, said she was well aware she had big shoes to fill, and counted down the top five reasons why:
• 5 – Smidy said Hopson, who is the town moderator in Blandford, clearly knew the ins and outs of Robert’s Rules, and they now find themselves asking, “WWDD – What would David do?”
• 4 – she said it was obvious that Hopson had a green thumb from the 40 plants that she inherited in the office, 13 of which are still alive.
• 3 – all of the excitement around the trips to Disney World, which Hopson accompanied, wearing Disney ties well in advance of the trips. “Multiple people in the community have brought that up to me,” Smidy said.
• 2 – Hopson’s intelligence, “As Michele [Crane] said, I had to read his emails several times,” she said.
• 1 – First on Smidy’s list of top five shoes to fill; “his care for the community.”
Assistant Superintendent and longtime business manager Stephanie Fisk said she remembered Hopson’s first day on the job, when he told her in his last job he brought his dog to work with him. She told him, “You’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Fisk said over nearly two decades they went through a mercury scare, mold issue, Disney trips, writing Superintendent’s Corner newspaper columns, one to one computers, I-Tech meetings, blizzard bags, and a water main break where he changed the hose in a suit. She said they have done so many things, and rarely questioned his judgment, except maybe when he brought a lamb to school.
Longtime administrative assistant Stacy Stewart listed fun facts about Hopson. She said he wrote 936 superintendent’s corners; attended 121 Annual Town Meetings; called 94 snow days and had 181 weather cancellations and spent “4,681 days in an office surrounded by six women.”
“Time goes by so fast, it’s so hard to believe it’s your retirement time. No early morning calls, no late-night meetings - thank you for always having our back,” Stewart said, telling him to enjoy the adventures of Laurel Hill farm that they always heard about. “Now it’s time to sit back and watch those seeds grow. We are truly grateful for all you’ve done for the district.”
Hopson then came forward with some urging, asking his former colleagues to support Smidy.
“Just try to keep her between the guard rails. Gateway has a bright future with you at the helm,” he said, adding, “After 28 years on the School Committee and as superintendent, this is the best district around. I hope the towns will continue to be supportive.”