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Barrington Middle starts on track

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By PAUL CATALA THE FISHHAWKER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 30, 2009

As students milled around the hallways between classes at Glenn H. Barrington Middle School, Principal Mary Beth Franklin was in her element - helping get yet another new school up and running.

Franklin, in her 19th year with the Hillsborough County School District, spent from 2000 to 2002 opening Randall Middle School and 2006 to 2007 helping get Bartels Middle School in New Tampa up and running.

To be back in another new school, said Franklin - who, as a youngster, was raised in Brandon before graduating from high school in Fort Lauderdale - was just as, if not more, exciting.

Franklin said for Barrington's 2009-10 school year, nearly 900 students from sixth- to eighth-grades are helping make the first lessons exciting for everyone. Opened at 5925 Village Center Drive, next to Stowers Elementary School, she said opening a school for the third time was "definitely a charm."

Barrington was built to help relieve crowding at Randall, Eisenhower and Rogers middle schools.

"It was extremely smooth. It's nice; I'm glad I'm back in the area working in the FishHawk community," said Franklin. "We've gotten off to a good start. The kids have enjoyed the move."

Helping make the first footsteps down the hall easier, said Franklin, was the school district allowed Barrington to be one of only five schools countywide to work with vendors to get furniture and equipment early. She said those items started getting to the school in mid-July.

Another aspect making Barrington's first year a bit more unique is that it's the only traditional middle school on a seven - rather than a six - period day, similar to magnet schools.

The extra period gives students up to three periods to take electives and in addition, eighth-grade students have the chance to earn up to five high school credited classes in eighth grade. Three high school credited elective departments are also available in agricultural science, business education and technology education courses.

"It gives kids more opportunities to explore interests for when they get to high school," said Franklin, who said high school credit is available in agriculture, computer and technical education.

As she scurried back to her office between classes, Franklin took time to chat with students in the library's computer lab before meeting up with eighth-grader Blaise Genne to discuss classes with him.

Genne, 14, who lives in nearby Boyette Creek, said he and his fellow classmates are happy to attend a new school. He said even though some students miss the schools they did attend, the allure of new classrooms overshadows those memories.

"It's a beautiful school on a beautiful landscape," he said. "Everything's been fun for me so far."

Down the hall, business teacher Jeff Fewel, who retired from the U.S. Air Force, said starting at Barrington with the "Bolts" as its mascot has been just as exciting for the teachers as it has been for students. He called it "a new adventure."

"We were up and running on day one. This is a great school; this year is going to be fantastic," he said.

Glen Barrington, after whom the school is named, is deceased. He was a longtime school district board member and Hillsborough County educator.

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