Superintendent Says Farewell

After nearly nine years as Superintendent for Red River Valley School Division (RRVSD) , Kelly Barkman has announced his resignation. Barkman's last day will be January 31st, and one day later he will begin his new position as Superintendent of the River East Transcona School Division in Winnipeg.

Barkman started teaching in 1982 at Niverville Elementary. He spent 21 years in the Hanover School Division also serving as Principal in Landmark and Kleefeld before making the jump to RRVSD in 2003.

Barkman says "I've had lots of highlights and I have lots of wonderful memories. My job is very much one of a people job and I think the first thing that comes to mind when I sit back and have time to reflect is about all the wonderful people that I've met over the last nine years and have had a chance to interact with them and share ideas with." Barkman says he will miss the students in RRVSD and their enthusiasm when he comes to visit. He will miss the staff, support staff, teachers, principals, bus drivers and custodians. "They're a wonderful group of people in Red River Valley, great schools. And then also I'm going to miss the communities, we have very involved communities in our division and they are really involved in the schools," adds Barkman.

When asked why he's leaving, Barkman answered, "I don't know if I have one particular reason. Red River Valley is a fantastic division. I wasn't looking to move. Opportunities came along." Barkman says "I don't know the schools as well as I do here but they have a wonderful reputation as does Red River Valley. And so I'm looking forward to that." Barkman says he leaves the division in good hands.

Meanwhile, the school board has yet to comment on how it will go about finding a replacement for Barkman.