Friday, July 12, 2019
www.towntimes.com
Volume 23, Number 15
New principal gets started at Brewster elementary
Park pavilion gets makeover
By Everett Bishop Town Times
By Everett Bishop Town Times
Debra Murray officially began her tenure as principal of Brewster Elementary School July 1. Murray comes to the Durham school after serving as an administrator in New Britain for nine years and as principal at the Abraham Pierson School in Clinton for one year.
The Dom Ferretti Pavilion at Peckham Park in Middlefield recently underwent some much-needed updates such as replacing the cedar shingle roof with a new metal roof and replacing the concrete pavers along the outside of the pavilion. The project started in April and has been ongoing the past three months.
Murray’s career in education started in teaching and, initially, she had no interest in being an administrator.
The town of Middlefield didn’t shoulder the entire cost of the project.
“The last principal I worked under really pushed me,” Murray said. “He was a great mentor and I was his right hand man.” Murray felt at home at Brewster as soon as she set foot in the school.
New Brewster Elementary School principal Debra Murray, right, is pictured with superintendent Kathryn Veronesi.
“They were extremely excited and welcoming,” she said. “The moment I walked in the door I felt that. It’s a very traditional school with very traditional values.”
Murray. “I’m excited to build those individual relationships with all of the kids.”
Going forward, Murray said she’ll be focused on acclimating herself to the school and getting to know students. “Every kid is unique,” said
The new principal says she “valued all the experience” in the positions that she has held, even her year at the Pierson school in Clinton. The school closed due to a decline in enrollment. “When she started in Clinton, after she was hired they
ion,” said Edward Bailey, Middlefield first selectman. The Lions Club constructed the pavilion back in 2003 in an effort to create “a common space to accommodate the outdoor social and athletic needs of our community,” according to its website. Middlefield Parks and Recreation director, Hannah Malcolm, she had “noticed stuff that needed to be changed.” This included the leaky roof and pavers that had begun to settle.
“The Lions Club donated a “We decided that metal new concrete paver walkwould be the best option way from the handicap parking area to the pavil-
See Pavilion, A12
made the decision to close the school,” said Kathryn Veronesi, superintendent of Regional School District 13. “She knows what it takes to do this kind of blending and transforming, she has experience." ebishop@record-journal.com 203-317-2444 Twitter: @everett_bishop
The new pavilion roof was placed by Neil Jones Home Improvement.
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