There will be new principals at Branford's Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) and Murphy Elementary School next fall, but both are familiar faces in the school district.

Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez told Zip06/The Sound that moving current WIS principal Robin Goeler to Murphy, and current Murphy principal Raeanne Reynolds to WIS, ensures talented leadership continues at both buildings, now and in the future.

"It has to do with looking at our talented administrative staff, and looking at the future of our school district, and putting people where they have the greatest impact," Hernandez told Zip06/The Sound.

Hernandez notified the WIS and Murphy school communities of the change with a letter sent out on March 7. The new principal assignments are effective July 1, 2017. Murphy is one of the town's three elementary schools and serves students in grades Pre-K – 4. WIS serves Branford's grade 5 - 8 public school students. Reynolds joined Murphy as school principal in 2014 and Goeler has been principal at WIS since 2002.

Hernandez said all of the town's public school principals have the same charge, regardless of the building they oversee.

"The responsibilities of a being an instructional leader and the building leader is the same. When the administrators are minted thorugh the certification process; they are certified to lead with the same commonalities --  leading the building, your resources, teachers, students and parents," Hernandez said.

To date, parents haven't contacted his office with questions about the assignments, he said.

"I have not received any comments; we've only received well wishes for both of them. I'm sure there are people outside of that; who may not know the things that a Superintendent must consider and should consider. This is a change, as I see it, that will have ramifications for our school district for decades," said Hernandez.

The news comes as WIS is on the cusp of being re-created as the town's next-generation middle school. The renovated and expanded WIS school building will include a new upper school (grades 7 - 8) and lower school (grades 5 - 6). The $88.2 million project, anticipated to be complete by December 2020, was approved by the town in 2016 and is progressing on schedule  (see the story here). The town awaits word, expected by June, on whether the  WIS project will receive an anticipated $30 million reimbursement from the state.

Hernandez said his decision to bring Goeler to Murphy and Reynolds to WIS was "thoughtful and thorough" and made not only with an eye toward the immediate impact both administrators will make, but also the impact their leadership will have for each building in the "out-years."  Hernandez said the district is excited about the changes Goeler and Reynolds will bring to Murphy and WIS.

"I think both principals have done a wonderful job in moving their buildings forward," he said.