North Berkshire School Union Losing Superintendent

By Tammy Daniels - April 08, 2008
iBerkshires Staff

John D. BarryFile photo

CLARKSBURG — After more than nine years guiding the North Berkshire School Union, John D. "Jay" Barry is taking a position slightly closer to home.

Barry was selected as the new superintendent last week of the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District, which serves nearly 2,000 students in Grades K-12 near the Connecticut border.

It's almost a straight shot down Interstate 91 from Barry's home in Amherst, and likely a shorter ride than his daily treks back and forth over the mountains to the Northern Berkshire schools and the central office in North Adams.

The drive was one reason, but not the only one that informed his decision to apply for the Southwick-Tolland job, he said.

"It's a good time [to move] in terms of my career," said Barry on Monday. "It's a very nice school district, very student-oriented."

The district is at least three times the size of the union of Clarksburg, Savoy, Florida and Monroe, which serves only up to Grade 8.

David Berger, chairman of the Clarksburg School Committee, said on Monday that his committee was aware that Barry had applied for another position and that the superintendent had called to let him know he'd been accepted.

Barry has a good relationship with the schools and his presence will be missed, said Berger, especially as Clarksburg moves ahead with its school renovation plans.

The union is a loose agreement between the towns to share administrative staff and costs; the committee meets twice a year, with each town represented by three individuals.

Barry said it was hard to pick one thing that occurred in the union of which he was particularly proud.

"The schools are all different, some have worked on programs and others on buildings," he said. "But it's been a collaborative process, all of us working for the kids. It's ending on a nice note."

School officials for the union hope to meet next week to begin the process of replacing Barry. The union will rely heavily on the its field service representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said Berger.

The representative, Pat Correira, will help committee members decide whether it's possible to get a new superintendent in place by fall or if the union should settle on an interim leader for now. She'll also do the advertising, setting up of interviews, and other aspects of the hiring process.

"It's very cost efficient. We just don't have the time that it takes to do all that," said Berger.

Correira's already proven successful — she helped guide the union to Barry back in 1999.

"He's a really good guy," said Correira on Tuesday. "But I feel bad for the School Committee because they're losing an outstanding superintendent."

Barry, who earned his master's and doctorate in education from Harvard University, was hired to replace John Cullinan in 1998. In Southwick-Tolland, he's be replacing Thomas E. Witham, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

There were three finalists for the Southwick-Tolland position, one of whom dropped out. The choice came down to Barry and the current assistant superintendent of schools, Paul R. Petit. Barry was informed of the committee's decision on Tuesday night.

While he won't miss the long drive (and the cost of frequently filling his tank), Barry said he will miss the journey amid the Berkshire foliage in the fall, and the "good people" he's worked with.

He'll also miss his job judging the annual Oh Be Thankful Pie Contest and Auction held by his schools each November. Barry's gotten into some spirited bidding wars over pies.

"Somebody better remember to invite me back for that."