Swampscott High principal lays out plans

SWAMPSCOTT – The new high school principal has his work cut out for him before students head back to school later this month.Principal Layne W. Millington, who started work on July 19, was hired to replace former principal Brian Salzer. Millington said he hopes to bring some stability and leadership to the school, which has had numerous administrative changes the last few years.”There is the stability piece as far leadership and that’s something they (school district) were looking for,” he said. “They were looking for someone to be here long-term and my long-term plan is to remain a principal here in Swampscott. The teachers have been fantastic. The staff really have to be commended for the quality of education kids in Swampscott are getting.”Millington said there is a lot to be done before school opens but he has no doubt he is up to meeting the challenge.”There’s a lot of work to be operationally ready,” he said. “I have devised an entry plan that includes document review and meeting with all staff members.”Millington said he favors decision making using a collaborative process where the various stakeholders have input.”Everyone needs to have input,” he said. “Phase 2 of my entry plan is when the students and faculty are back, I want to get out and about. I want to experience things through the eyes of the students and teachers.”As far as changes, Millington said he is keeping a list of items brought up by faculty members he has spoken with.”As I go through the first phase of the entry plan,” he said, “I am trying to develop a list of burning issues that keep popping up in the conversations I have with faculty members. Two things that keep coming up are students using personal electronic devices and the dress code. I am going to ask the advisory council to take a look at these issues.”Before coming to Swampscott, Millington was assistant principal at Belmont High School. He was previously a science department chairman and physics teacher at Georgetown High School. Prior to his tenure in Georgetown, Millington taught science at Wakefield High School and Springfield High School in Springfield, Vt. Millington was previously employed by Mellon Financial, holds a bachelor’s degree in science, a Master’s degree in curriculum from Castleton State College and a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Study in educational leadership from Salem State College.