Update: Principal Leaving Berlin High School

In late August 2010, students at Berlin High School greeted new principal, Matthew Harnett. He entered Berlin High School after George Synnott retired last year, having served the school for over 20 years.

Harnett took charge of several issues that were of extreme importance to the school and the town. The first, of course, was getting the renovation plan passed, which it did. The second was working with the Superintendent and Board of Education to pass new, more rigorous standards for graduation and a new program of studies at the high school.Harnett's stay, while important, will be brief.

He was announced as the new Principal for Region I Schools in Falls Village Monday night. The job is much closer to his home in Torrington.

"In order to do what is best for the kids of Berlin and do what's best for my family I tried to strike a balance," Harnett said. "I was struggling at both ends and my family comes first. I need to take care of them and this opportunity affords me more time with my family."

Harnett said on average it took him 50 minutes to get to and from Berlin High School on a daily basis from his home in Torrington. His new job will cut his travel time at least in half.

"I wasn't looking for a job but this kind of popped up and I was approached by some people I knew on the Board of Education in that system," said Harnett, father of an 11-year old boy and a 9-year old girl. "They asked me to take a look at it and I hemmed and hawed about it for a long time. I talked several times with Dave Erwin about the position and it was a difficult decision to make. A lot of different things went into my decision but the bottom line was I would get to spend more time with my family and less time on the road."

Harnett said he is proud of how much was accomplished in his year as BHS Principal."We did a lot," he said. "Like I said, this is not a decision I took lightly. We had gotten the referendum passed and we passed the new program of studies. I know things are moving in the right direction and there is nothing but great things happening in the future at Berlin High School. I'm proud of what we did, the teachers, administration and parents in this year."

It was a hard day today as some students I had grown close to came to say they would miss me and wished me good luck. People might think you can't really get to know the kids in one year but believe me I formed some very strong bonds with the students at Berlin High School and I will miss them and the parents immensely."

He served at Torrington Middle School as principal and New Britain High School as associate principal.

"He was announced at the new Principal for Region I," Berlin Superintendent David B. Erwin said. "We obviously wish him well. He has worked very hard and did a great job of working with the parents and the tours of the high school to help us pass the renovations at the high school. He has also worked hard with the administration and central office to pass a new program of studies.

"This is a move closer to home for him. When you have children and a good job comes up closer to home I think it's a hard thing to turn down. We are disappointed because we thought he did a great job but like I said we thank him for all his great work and wish him well."

Erwin said that he and the Board of Education will begin to look for a replacement immediately.

"Matt has said he will work with the transition team to make it a seamless transition. We will post the job and we may have to have an interim principal in the meantime. We will do what's best for the students as we always do."

Berlin Board of Education President Gary Brochu was surprised but not stunned by the news.

"When you hire six administrators as we did last year, a very large group, it is not uncommon to lose one," Brochu said. "Am I surprised, a little bit but it is one of six and we'll go from here. What makes it seem more dramatic is that we've had three principals in 32 years at Berlin High School. Harnett followed principals and George Synnott.

"It was an eventful year for Matt with the high school renovation referendum and passage of the new program of studies. We wish him well and hope this is a great for him and his family.

"Top-notch high school principals are hard to come by. Luckily Dave (Erwin) and I know a lot of people around the state and hopefully that will help us find a great person. The board of education has not even met since we heard so we need to meet and discuss what is the next move. We will not rush and we will never settle when it comes to filling this important position."