By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

BURRILLVILLE — The School Committee has named a new principal at the high school and is preparing today to appoint an interim school superintendent.

At a recent meeting, the committee agreed to hire veteran Massachusetts educator Ralph Olsen to succeed interim Principal Robert Boule, who retired last month after serving as Burrillville High School’s interim principal. Boule became principal following the resignation of former Principal Donald Rebello in 2007.
School Committee Chairwoman Debra L. Stockwell announced Olsen’s appointment on the eve of the committee’s meeting today to appoint an interim school superintendent to succeed outgoing Superintendent Steven Welford.
Olsen of Westborough, Mass. was one of two finalists recommended to the School Committee by Welford. Welford had been given a list of four semi-finalists by a principal search committee, which had culled those four from a field of about 30 applicants. Olsen started his new job on July 1.
Olsen retired on Aug. 31, 2004 under the Massachusetts Retirement Plus program, but came back to work in 2005 as interim principal at Sharon High School where he worked for one year after being contracted by the New England School Development Council. After that stint, he was hired as principal at B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River in July of 2006. Olsen served in that position while receiving “critical need waivers” from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The waiver allowed Olsen, who had reached retirement age for an educator, to fill the position rather than someone not receiving retirement benefits because the School Department had not received applicants who better fit the school’s needs.

Before he retired, he was principal of Framingham High School from 1990 to 1998 and principal of Weymouth Vocational Technical High School from 1997 to 1998. From 1993 to 1997, he was principal at Ashland High School, and from 1981 to 1983, he was principal of North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend, Mass.
Other administrative positions Olsen has held include, vice principal at David Prouty High School in Spencer, Mass; assistant vice principal at Mt. Ararat School in Topsham, Maine; and director of adult education at Franklin High School.
He began his teaching career in Franklin public schools where he taught math and business. He was also varsity hockey coach at Franklin High from 1970 to 1974.
Olsen holds a Master of Arts in secondary school administration from Framingham State College, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Northeastern University.
Olsen was nominated for “Man of the Year” by the Middlesex News for educational leadership provided at Ashland High School and was recognized by the town of Framingham for promoting respect for diversity.
During his time at Durfee, Olsen oversaw the hiring of two new vice principals in his first year. Olsen also moved the school from a five-period day to seven periods, which resulted in more teachers in the classrooms and smaller classroom sizes. He also led a revamping of the school’s handbook and reworked the vice principal structure so each would be assigned to a grade and remain with them through graduation.
At a special meeting today, the Burrillville School Committee is expected to name a new interim replacement for Welford, who was appointed school superintendent of the Westerly public school system.
Welford is leaving after two years as Burrillville’s school chief.
The interim superintendent will oversee the district until such time as the committee hires a permanent replacement with help from a committee-appointed superintendent search committee.
Welford was hired by Burrillville in 2006 to replace former School Superintendent Barbara A. VonVillas, who left the district halfway through the year. Welford’s appointment completed a search that lasted several months, after the committee voted not to renew the contract of VonVillas, who had been the Burrillville superintendent for seven years.
Welford, who has more than 25 years of experience in Massachusetts and New Hampshire public schools, had his contract was renewed last July by a 4 to 2 vote of the School Committee.
Prior to heading Burrillville schools, Welford worked as interim schools superintendent in Gorham, N.H.; an elementary principal in Wakefield, Mass.; and assistant superintendent in Hooksett, N.H.