Montgomery resigning as Region 7 superintendent

REGION 7 — Region 7 Superintendent of Schools Clinton Montgomery has announced that he will retire from his post  at the end of July.

In an afternoon e-mail sent out to parents Tuesday, May 11, Montgomery said his decision to retire from the district was made with “a great many mixed feelings since it was balanced by a very strong desire to return to my original home state of New Mexico.

“Along with my belief that this has been the best job I have ever had the opportunity to hold,� he wrote in the letter.

Montgomery said the decision to retire was a recent one “based on a sudden opportunity to return to New Mexico by the mid-summer.�

The superintendent added that he made the decision to send the letter out through the district’s e-mail alert system because he wanted to make sure parents and others “hear of this decision from me directly rather than through other indirect means.

“I wish to thank you for your incredibly strong level of support and assistance over the last three years for both positive district initiatives and for the challenges we faced during these very difficult economic times,� Montgomery wrote. “Thank you for the honor of serving R7 as superintendent. Regional is clearly a very special place to work.�

He added that the information on the process of recruiting and hiring a new superintendent of schools would be “forthcoming� from the district.

Montgomery is the second high-level district administrator to announce his retirement this school year.

Northwestern Regional High School Principal Wayne Conner, who has served as an educator for more than three decades in the district, will retire at the end of June.

Kenneth Chichester, a current housemaster and veteran science teacher, will take over Conner’s spot at the high school beginning July 1.

The district’s school board met Wednesday, May 12, when it was expected the news of Montgomery’s retirement and future plans to find a replacement would be discussed.

The Journal will have more on this developing story in next week’s issue.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less