The start of the new school year at Barrington School District 220 also marked the beginning of the new superintendent’s run and the district’s 50th anniversary.
On the first day of school for the district’s first through 12th grade students on Aug. 21, new Superintendent Craig Winkelman was at Arnett C. Lines Elementary School greeting the hundreds of first to fifth grade students who arrived to start the new year. The school’s kindergarteners, and ones across the district, were set to start two days later.
“We’re excited to have the students back into our schools, and continue to deliver that high quality of education here in Barrington and a well rounded education,” Winkelman told Pioneer Press.
During his back-to-school visit to Lines Elementary School, Winkelman was seen high-fiving students and saying hello to staff members. He officially became the new school chief May 1 after taking over from Robert Hunt — who had started as district superintendent in July 2021. Hunt returned to his native Ohio, where he was before Barrington, to lead a school district in the Columbus, Ohio area.
“We’ve had a lot of construction going on throughout the district this summer, including here at Lines School, so it’s nice to see the construction create new spaces for our students and then be able to welcome them back today,” Winkelman said.
The construction projects came as a result of the successful $147 million bond referendum from the March 17, 2020 election. According to information about the construction projects on the school district website, work is expected to continue until 2025.
This past summer, construction took place at Lines, Barbara B. Rose and North Barrington elementary schools, and at the Barrington Early Learning Center.
There was also major construction at Barrington High School, the lone high school in the district, and construction workers were seen on the first day of school completing work there. Upgrades to the baseball fields are part of reworked amenities.
“We have a number of ribbon cutting ceremonies we’ll be doing this fall, and looking forward to that,” Winkelman told Pioneer Press.
Arnett C. Lines Elementary School Principal Kenneth Hyllberg was out on the first day, too, greeting students and families. He also visited classrooms to say hello and to check in on the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum lab.
Hyllberg said the first day of school is a big one.
“The kids are why we’re here,” Hyllberg said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than standing out there (in front of school) and being bombarded with all these hundreds of smiles. And all the parents look pretty happy too.”
SD220 has more than 8,000 students in pre-K to 12th grade across 12 schools. Arnett C. Lines Elementary School has just over 500 students.
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Staff members are, “about the kids, so very ready,” Hyllberg said. “We’ve been saying, ‘Happy New Year’ to the kids.”
Making rounds on the first day of the school year, Winkelman also visited Barrington Middle School-Station campus where he presented a gift to a retiring staff member.
Starting with this school year, SD220 marks its 50th year. District leaders explained that in 1973, voters approved combining into one the three school districts that were in existence then. As the district turns 50, officials say a number of events are planned to mark the occasion.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.