Consolidation could cost Mystic Middle principal his job

Stonington — Mystic Middle School Principal Greg Keith has spent 19 years at the school, first as teacher and dean of students and then, after a three-year stint in the Ledyard school system, four years as Mystic Middle’s principal.

It’s hard to miss Keith in the school. At 6 feet 10 inches tall, the former college and professional basketball player cuts an imposing but friendly figure in the hallways.

But with the school board’s decision to consolidate all of the town’s middle school students in the larger Mystic Middle School, Keith likely will lose his principal’s job.

That’s because longtime Pawcatuck Middle School Principal Tim Smith has more seniority and would be in line to become the renamed school’s principal.

The elimination of Keith’s job and 14.6 other positions is part of the consolidation’s more than $776,000

projected annual savings in personnel costs.

Earlier this month, the school board approved a plan to send all Pawcatuck Middle students to Mystic beginning in the fall of 2019. School officials have said that a decline in enrollment, which is projected to continue, will make it increasingly difficult to offer the programs that are needed by students. It also would produce an inequity between the two schools, as the smaller Pawcatuck Middle School would not have enough staff to offer some programs that Mystic does. The influx of teachers from Pawcatuck is expected to allow the school system to offer more academic programs and extracurricular activities for all students.

Other positions being cut include a fifth-grade teacher, music teacher, physical education teacher, two special education teachers, a nurse, 1.8 secretarial positions, 1.8 custodial positions and five paraprofessionals. Exactly who will lose their jobs will depend on factors such as seniority and union contract rules.

Superintendent of Schools Van Riley pointed out, though, that there will be retirements and other attrition before the consolidation takes place in the fall of 2019, so the district may not have to lay off any current employees to account for the decrease in positions. He said a secretary and a custodian already have informed the school district they will be retiring before then. There are other administrative positions in the district and there is a possibility Keith could obtain one of those due to seniority and union contract rules.

“My hope is that, through attrition and retirements, we won’t have to go through layoffs,” Riley said. “I really think it will work itself out.”

Despite the elimination of his job, Keith said the consolidation potentially would create not only more academic opportunities and extracurricular activities for students, but more social opportunities as the middle school students would all be together for three years before they reach the high school.

“I think as an educator it makes perfect sense that this happens now,” he said. “It really makes sense to bring these kids together at this point.”

Keith said that “things like this happen” as school districts grapple with issues such as declining enrollment and funding.

As the school board dis- cussed the merger in recent months and then voted on it, Keith said parents asked him about what it would mean for him.

“I’m trying to stay as neutral as I can. It’s the professional thing to do,” he said.

Keith said he is “blessed to be at the middle school” and, if things work out so he can remain in the school system or Mystic, he would be thrilled.

Keith said that he does not intend to return to teaching and would like to remain in an administrative role.