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New Warren schools superintendent gets acquainted
Photo
Dr. Bruce Thomas
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Among the first things Bruce Thomas did on his first day as superintendent of Warren City Schools Monday was observe a relatively minor 10 a.m. school board meeting.
Though Thomas said he attended a “handful of meetings with staff” in the month since he signed a contract to be Warren’s next superintendent, his main role for a while is still going to be getting acquainted.
Thomas and Kevin Stringer, school board president, said July is a busy for getting personnel in place.
This summer was no different, with Loree Richardson, acting superintendent, and the human resources office selecting new lead principals for three of the school district’s five buildings.
School board members, meanwhile, each gave Thomas Monday a list of five community leaders they think Thomas should meet.
“One of the things I think I need to spend time on is showing the community how good the schools are,” Thomas said.
“Our schools are very, very, very safe. Sometimes there’s a perception that the schools are not very safe. The neighborhood nearby may not be, but the buildings are. We need to toot our own horn,” Thomas said.
The new superintendent, finished up his contract with the Marietta City Schools on Friday, is thinking of making those buildings more accessible to the public so that the public can see first-hand how safe they are and what high quality instruction is going on.
“Maybe we should have senior citizen day. Let them come in and have lunch with the kids or have an open house on a Saturday or from 4 to 6 p.m. on a weekday.”
Board member Ed Bolino agrees that the community will benefit from letting the public “know what goes on in the schools day to day, the excellence of our curriculum.”
Stringer said Monday the selection of a new superintendent and three new building principals gives the district an opportunity to grow and improve rapidly.
“We’re going to get some fresh perspectives. We’re going to see things through their eyes. We’re looking forward to whatever comes to pass.”
Stringer added, “I think this is the beginning of an exciting chapter in the history of Warren schools.”