Harwood Co-Principal Greenberg to step down in October
August 21, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Harwood Co-Principal Laurie Greenberg at commencement in June. Photo by Gordon Miller
In a letter sent to Harwood Union Middle/High School families this week, Co-Principal Laurie Greenberg announced that she will be stepping down from her position with her final day being Thursday, October 10.
Under the subject line “My Next Steps,” Greenberg explained how her family has relocated to Utah and that she’s recently rethought her plan to remain in Vermont and at Harwood through this school year to join them next summer.
“This decision was not made lightly, as my commitment to this community and its students runs deep,” Greenberg wrote, noting that her time in the Harwood district has lasted 15 years including just over four years as high school co-principal.
“My goal has always been to give back to this community, which is why I applied for the Co-Principalship five years ago. I wanted to help create a school where every student feels a sense of belonging and gains knowledge that inspires them,” Greenberg said. “It has been an honor to work alongside you over the past four years, and I know that Harwood will continue to be a trailblazer in the state of Vermont.”
Greenberg’s announcement came just one week before the start of the 2024-25 school year. Her departure will leave the grade 7-12 school with two administrators, high school Co-Principal Megan McDonough and Assistant Principal Bethany Turnbaugh who oversees the grade 7-8 middle school. Harwood’s first day of ths school year is Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Greenberg and McDonough were hired to start together at Harwood in July 2020 after former Principal Lisa Atwood retired. Greenberg along with her husband and three children made their home in Moretown. Prior to taking the co-principal position at Harwood, Greenberg was assistant principal for three years at Mt. Abraham Union High School in Bristol. She moved into administration after teaching grades 2 through 10 in both Massachusetts and Vermont schools.
Superintendent Mike Leichliter on Wednesday said he sees Greenberg’s departure as an opportunity to revisit the administrator positions at Harwood. “I am recommending to the board next Wednesday that Meg [McDonough] be appointed as the sole principal of Harwood Union High School and that we no longer use a co-principal model at Harwood Union Middle/High School,” he said in an email.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the Harwood Unified Union School Board resumes its regular meeting schedule after a summer break.
Leichliter shared his thinking on the matter that involves relying on attrition to downsize staffing levels. “We will post for an assistant principal position,” he said.
The superintendent joined the school district in July 2022. At that time, Harwood had Greenberg and McDonough as co-principals, an assistant principal at the middle school, a high school special education director and special education assistant director, and a director of counseling.
Harwood Co-Principal Meg McDonough at 2024 graduation. Photo by Gordon Miller
With Greenberg’s departure, only two of those six positions – a principal and assistant principal – will be in place, he noted. “We do not need another co-principal, but there are a lot of critical functions that are necessary for a school of 600 to function. If we are able to find an assistant principal, we may be able to make another reduction at that time,” Leichliter said.
During the spring school budget process to determine the 2024-25 school year’s budget, voters twice rejected budget proposals before voting at the end of May to approve a $47.9 million budget to run the district for the upcoming year. To reach a spending level that voters would approve, school district administration and the school board twice reduced budget proposals to bring down costs and, ultimately, property taxes. Personnel cuts played a large role in those budget reductions, with the equivalent of 27.5 full-time positions being eliminated. Most were through attrition from resignations and retirements while layoffs involved four elementary-level language teachers and three administration-level jobs.
Recruiting challenge
Recruiting and hiring once the school year is underway can be a challenge. The school district currently has 24 vacant positions as the new year is about to commence. Seven of the openings are at Harwood Union Middle/High School including the athletic trainer/assistant athletic director position, a special educator spot, a food service position, an instructional assistant and a teacher with an interest in obtaining special education licensure. Other vacancies are spread among the district’s other schools with several districtwide openings including substitute teachers, food service workers and a custodian. All of the vacancies are posted on the Harwood Unified Union School District website.
In addition, school bus contractor First Student is in great need of substitute drivers, according to Danial Sargeant who manages the bus barn at Harwood. Sargeant this week said he and the office dispatcher are the only two potential substitute drivers as the school year begins. Leichliter said the hourly pay rate for bus drivers is $27.30.
Leichliter said that filling the athletic trainer position is a priority. According to Vermont Principals Association high school athletics rules, the district needs to have a trainer on site for ice hockey, wrestling and lacrosse, none of which are fall sports. “We are looking at a contract with VASTA as a stop-gap measure until we can find an employee,” he said referring to a physical therapy practice with an office in Waterbury.
At last week’s fall sports meeting with student-athletes and parents, Harwood Athletic Director Ian Fraunfelder discussed the impact of not having a full-time trainer on staff. “What this means is we cannot provide as much injury prevention and care as we would like,” he said.
Students looking to manage injuries and injury prevention typically work closely with a trainer who also interacts with sports teams by offering guidance on conditioning, nutrition, and both avoiding injuries and returning to play after being hurt.
Fraunfelder told students and parents that the biggest shift given the absence of a trainer will be around management of concussions and head injuries – students will need to rely on their own doctors for evaluation and guidance, he explained. “Please be patient with us. We’re one, following state law and two, looking out for the best interest of the child,” he said. “We only have one brain, we need to protect it.”
Fraunfelder also used the gathering of about 200 people to encourage community members to network about the opening: “If anyone knows someone who’s a certified athletic trainer looking for a job, please send them my way.”
Greenberg’s letter is printed in full below.
My Next Steps
Harwood Co-Principal Laurie Greenberg after graduation in 2023. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
August 20, 2024
Dear Harwood Community,
This summer has been a period of deep reflection for me regarding my future steps. As some of you know, my family has relocated to Utah. Initially, I intended to remain through the 2024/25 school year. However, as circumstances have evolved, I've realized the importance of being with my family. It is with great sadness that I have made the decision to resign as Co-Principal of Harwood, with my last day being October 10th.
This decision was not made lightly, as my commitment to this community and its students runs deep. Over the past 15 years, I have served in many roles—parent, teacher, board member, and friend. Harwood has been my home for so many years, and I cherish all that it offers its children. What an amazing place to learn and grow. I truly believe that education is a gift and a key to building strong communities.
My goal has always been to give back to this community, which is why I applied for the Co-Principalship five years ago. I wanted to help create a school where every student feels a sense of belonging and gains knowledge that inspires them. It has been an honor to work alongside you over the past four years, and I know that Harwood will continue to be a trailblazer in the state of Vermont.
Thank you for your support, and for the privilege of serving this incredible community.
With a Smile and Gratitude,
Laurie Greenberg, Co-Principal, Harwood Union Middle & High School