Barrington is looking for a new elementary school principal. 

Officials announced earlier this month that Coleen Smith had resigned. Smith served as Primrose Hill School Principal last year, having stepped in when former Principal Pat Tolento left for a teaching position at the high school. 

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said Smith did a great job at Primrose Hill School, but is leaving for a school district closer to where she lives. Smith will serve as a principal at an elementary school in East Greenwich. 

“I wish her the best of luck in this new role,” Messore wrote in an announcement to Primrose Hill School families. 

“Supporting our PHS community and hiring a new building principal are my top priorities right now. With the start of the school year almost upon us, I assure you that Primrose staff and students will be fully supported during this leadership transition. I have already taken immediate steps to begin the principal search process to make sure that we provide the best educational experience for your children this year.”

Smith worked in two roles during her time in Barrington — she initially served as an assistant principal at Hampden Meadows School before filling the principal’s job at Primrose Hill. 

During an interview with the Barrington Times, Messore said officials were working hard to fill the vacancy as the start of the new school year approaches. 

Messore said work is already underway to assemble a screening committee which will review applicants for the job. He added that 10 people have applied for the Primrose Hill School position.

Barrington has recruited a familiar face to fill the leadership role in the interim. The district recently hired former Barrington High School Principal Joe Hurley to serve as interim Primrose Hill School Principal. 

Messore said Hurley, who retired from BHS a little more than a year ago, has been working as an interim administrator in a few different school districts, including North Providence and Lincoln.

“He finished the year at Lincoln and did their graduation,” Messore added. 

Modular classrooms on the way

Messore said a new modular classroom unit will be delivered to the Primrose Hill School campus soon. The modular classrooms will address some space issues at the local elementary school. This will be the second modular unit at Primrose Hill School, as officials had a two-classroom unit installed last year.

Messore said the new modular classroom unit will be delivered by mid-September.