Cell phone policy under development, new staff in place
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
“This is not a ‘me’ thing,” says NRHEG Secondary Principal Grant Berg. “It’s a ‘we’ thing.”
After serving as the secondary principal for a few months last spring following the resignation of David Bunn, Berg has spent the summer assuring the secondary site will be operational.
Significant turnover in staff has occurred, with new teachers in the social studies, math, language arts and music departments; ensuring those positions were filled was an ongoing task. New teachers spent two days in orientation on August 21 and 22; all teachers began their 2023-24 school year on August 28.
Students, families and members of the community had the opportunity to meet teachers and tour the school during an open house on Wednesday evening.
Aside from the number of new teachers in the building, Berg says students are not likely to notice any significant changes. Updated policies regarding when and where students will be permitted to access their phones are under consideration and will be a topic of discussion and planning during this week’s staff workshops.
“There’s no doubt phones can be an educational tool,” Berg says of personal electronic devices. “But they can also be a distraction to learning. It’s a matter of looking for a balance that will meet our needs.”
Berg speculates that the everyday feel of the school may seem different, since changes in leadership often have that effect. “We want to work toward a responsive culture with mutual respect as one of its foundations,” he says. “It’s our duty to educate the students to help prepare them for the future.
“To me that means a range of opportunities in academic, athletic, and fine arts.
“You’re not going to find me behind my desk very often; instead I hope to be out there doing what needs to get done to keep things operating smoothly.”
He states he is grateful for the support and assistance he has received that he anticipates continuing receiving from the community and staff.
“There will be some snags,” he predicts. “But the majority of students and staff know me, and they know I share their pride and sense of belonging for the district. I believe we will be able to work things out.”
For now, building-wide, the mood is one of anticipation.
“We can’t wait to get kids back in the school,” says Berg.
As a heads up, he mentions that Homecoming will be the week which begins with coronation on Monday, Oct. 2. The week will feature a home volleyball game on Thursday and the football game against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on October 6.