Incoming principal sees positives as he gets to know Housatonic H.S.

FALLS VILLAGE — Matthew J. Harnett, the incoming principal at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS), said he is not worried about stepping into a job that has been the focal point of considerable controversy since August 2010.That was when HVRHS Principal Gretchen Foster and Vice Principal Mary Ann Buchanan resigned — within a few days of each other and only a few weeks before the school year started.Harnett, currently principal at Berlin High School in Connecticut, said in a phone interview Monday, May 16, that he was aware of the controversies around the resignations — and with the Pingpank Report, an independent review of the resignations conducted by attorney Jeffrey C. Pingpank (the report can be found at The Lakeville Journal’s new website, www.tricornernews.com, and at the former website, www.tcextra.com).“It doesn’t make me nervous,” said Harnett of the past disputes and discussions. Harnett spent the day at Housatonic Monday, May 2 — the day his hiring was approved by the Region One School District Board of Education and announced by Region One Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain. The six towns of the school district are Sharon, Salisbury, Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan and the town of Canaan (Falls Village).“I met probably 70 percent of the staff. They were welcoming — and frank,” Harnett said. The impression he came away with: “I don’t think the report is a fair representation” of the school.He said he was impressed by the wide variety of programs at HVRHS. “There is something for everybody — kids and adults.”Personally, he welcomes the chance to work closer to home. Harnett lives in Torrington with his wife and two children. A 35-minute commute will be a nice change from the hour-plus drive he does now.“Plus, to be the principal you have to be involved with the school and the community.” Being closer will make that part of the job much easier.Harnett’s previous jobs have been at much larger high schools. “This will be the smallest, which is good. I’ll be able to develop relationships with everybody.”Harnett’s official start date is July 1, but he will be around beginning in the last couple of weeks of June.He plans to set the tone early, as one of moving ahead.“People are tired of going back and forth about what happened last year. They’re ready to move on.”