While taking a positive view of her first week under restrictions due to the pandemic, Dr. Jennifer Spring said one aspect is difficult.
“I haven’t been able to meet students yet,’’ said the new superintendent for the Waterville Central School District. “It is what it is and we’ll make the best of it.’’
Spring started officially as WCS’s superintendent last Monday after accepting the position right before Christmas. At the beginning of December she retired after five years leading the Cohoes City School District.
Coming to Waterville brings Spring back home, she said. She grew up in New Hartford, which is also where she raised her three sons and served as principal of the High School before taking on her first superintendent role in Cohoes.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be here,’’ she said. “I am so happy to be coming back home and Waterville is such a great place.’’
Her first few days on the job involved working with staff and the Board of Education to evaluate when students would return to in-person classes. The decision was made to extend remote only until Jan. 18.
“We’re monitoring this every day,’’ Spring said. “Who is on quarantine, who has tested positive, to weigh our staffing for when we can resume in-person. It’s changing every day and safety is priority.’’
Spring said she can attest to the fears students and staff have of coming back in-person with Covid-19 cases on the rise in the Mohawk Valley. A couple of days after she did a virtual Community Forum Dec. 7 as the finalist for the position, Spring began having symptoms of the coronavirus.
She tested positive and said she’s just getting over the illness. “It is terrifying when you get the news you have it,’’ Spring said. “I understand people’s fears and that means we have hard choices to make.’’
As she settles into the role, Spring said she wants to find ways to improve communications with the school community. One method will be introduced this week when a new email is set up to allow people watching the virtual Board of Education meetings a means to ask…