Metcalf Will Take
Montpelier Job
By Martha Slater

Orange Windsor Supervisory Union Supt. Steve Metcalf confirmed this week that he will take a new job as superintendent of the Montpelier School District. Metcalf became OWSU Supt. in 2005, after serving as principal of Randolph Elementary School for 20 years.

When he spoke with The Herald March 19, Metcalf noted that the major difference in his new job will be that the OWSU has two separate K-12 districts and students attend nine different high schools. In the Montpelier district, there is one elementary, one middle and one high school. The total pupil count is actually about the same as in the OWSU, with around 1,000 students in grades K-12.

"I don’t think it will necessarily be any easier, just different," Metcalf said. He noted that in his new job, he’ll work with one seven-member board vs. five separate town school district boards plus a supervisory union board.

Like schools in the OWSU, the Montpelier district is also facing declining enrollment and facilities challenges, such as building renovations.

"They just started a new project called performance contracting which is designed to address some of these issues and also reduce energy costs," Metcalf said. "Another challenge that’s similar to here is that there is a gap in achievement between the economically disadvantaged kids and the more affluent kids. Montpelier has taken some steps to address that and has had some success, and I’m looking forward to continuing with them."

For now, Metcalf said he’ll keep his home in Randolph, but may consider a move to the Montpelier area in the future, where he said he’s looking forward to being a part of one community.

"I wasn’t anticipating a move, but the opportunity to work with a single community and one school board was something I couldn’t pass up," Metcalf said. "The board members, administration and staff at the OWSU and all the school boards in that district have been wonderful to work with and I do have some regrets about leaving, but I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my life. I think my experience here will serve me well."

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