Good News!...Jasinski is going back to School

Jasinski is going back to School
Longtime High School principal picked to fill interim position
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON A ’Gansett legend will once again walk the halls of the high school, as the Narragansett Regional School Committee appointed former principal John Jasinski as the school’s interim leader on Wednesday night.

“I’m sure no one in this room knows him and it’s going to completely come by surprise,” Superintendent Ruth Miller joked during the committee meeting.

Mr. Jasinski stepped down from his 34-year run with the district in 2008, having started his career in 1974 as a math teacher at Narragansett High School. He was appointed as the high school’s principal in 2001 after serving as vice principal for more than two decades, and was succeeded by current Principal Shawn Rickan.

The interim position comes as a direct result of a series of cuts made to the fiscal 2016 budget to close a half-million dollar shortfall. One of the cost-saving provisions detailed was the elimination of an administrator and the hiring of an interim high school principal to allow the district to better assess their needs for the combined middle and high school building.

Ms. Miller said she passed along the information about possible candidates to the high school staff, who came back with a resounding vote of support for Mr. Jasinski.

“They came back and unanimously — not just the committee, but the entire high school staff — wanted Mr. Jasinski,” she said. “And then it was my hard work to get him to sign a contract.”

The former principal said he was honored to be chosen and would do his best to maintain an open line of communication with staff, as well as parents and members of the community.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I envision sitting before a school committee other than as a resident of the community,” he said. “I will do my best to put forth each and every day the effort you’re expecting of me.”

“Your hair is a little bit grayer, I think,” joked committee member Hank Mason.

The School Committee welcomed Mr. Jaskinski back to the district with a round of applause.