Russ Bartlett retiring as superintendent of schools

by Dan McClelland

Among the personnel actions of the Tupper Lake Board of Education this month was the announced retirement of Superintendent of Schools Russell Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett will step down from the district’s highest post at the close of this school year.

Mr. Bartlett joined the district faculty nearly three decades ago in 1994 as a science teacher.

He served as athletic director from 2010 to 2015 and then as high school principal for about five years, before his appointment to succeed retiring Superintendent of Schools Seth McGowan. This year is his fourth year as superintendent.

Outside of the classroom and the administrative offices, Mr. Bartlett also coached girls varsity soccer for 13 years and junior varsity basketball for a time.

Much of Mr. Bartlett’s focus these past four years has been working with the district’s financial advisors and architects, along with Building and Grounds Superintendent Pierre St. Pierre and Business Manager Dan Bower, on the comprehensive and very detailed $20.4 million building improvement plan recently endorsed by school district voters.

Construction of the various projects eyed in the plan- which includes all the district buildings- is expected to commence next year.

The board will commence a search process in coming weeks to find a replacement for Mr. Bartlett.

In other personnel actions at the November board meeting, the board:

-accepted the resignation of Diane Helms from her position as yearbook advisor. Lori Staves was appointed as Diane’s replacement.

-accepted the resignation as Katrina Villeneuve as a teacher aide.

-accepted the resignation of Dkota Wright as a bus driver and cleaner.

-appointed Christina Pearce to a 52-week probationary appointment as teacher aide and bus monitor.

-granted maternity leave to Danielle LaMere as of March 8 through the end of the current school year.

The board also approved the appointments of the coaches for winter sports.

Broyce Guerette was appointed for another year as coach of the varsity hockey team. Josh Tomkin will be his assistant and Evan LaBarge is again a volunteer coaching assistant.

Brian Bennett is returning for another year as varsity boys basketball coach and Hayden LaMere as junior varsity basketball coach. The modified team’s coach will be Grant Godin.

Travis Dupuis is again the girls basketball coach, and he will be helped as a volunteer by Carl Sorensen.

Amy Farrell and Hannah Klossner are again the indoor track coaches and Dennis Klossner was appointed again as the weightlifting coach.

The board adjourned to executive session that evening to consider tenure appointments, to be announced at an upcoming meeting.