Preston – New Superintendent Roy Seitsinger told the Board of Education at his first meeting Monday that he occasionally will bring “the world” to the board's attention to discuss how events such as the racist clashes in Charlottesville, Va., tensions with North Korea and the opioid crisis affect Preston students.

Seitsinger, who presented a draft “entry plan” to the board Monday, said already he has seen a student weeping in fear that the United States might be going to war with North Korea. He said he personally knows someone who is a “functioning” heroin addict — going to work and interacting with others — at least for the short term. Students may have family members in similar situations.

“Charlottesville,” Seitsinger said of last week's white nationalists' rally and counter protest that turned violent. “Kids see it on TV, on their phones or on Netflix before their show starts. … We need them to come here and say, '(Sigh), I'm in a safe place, and I get this.'"

He said students have never been so exposed to world events, and educators need to catch up on how to address the complex issues and emotions that arise from the news.

On the more mundane level, Seitsinger, the former Westerly superintendent, outlined his approach for setting priorities for his first school year in Preston. He listed dozens of people he plans to meet with individually, including school board members, selectmen, finance board chairman, school administrators and staff, students, state legislators and leaders of the region's two major Native American tribes.

Seitsinger said he will pose specific questions to each person, including asking what they feel is important, what frustrates them, and what they hope to accomplish within the next year.

“Noting responses to these questions will help build an action-oriented direction for me and the district in my first several months as superintendent,” Seitsinger wrote in his draft plan.

One education issue, however, might need to be addressed immediately. The incoming second grade class has 44 students divided into two classes. Two additional students are expected to enroll, putting the class totals at the brink of a possible split into three classes. However, the budget does not include funding for a third second-grade teacher.

Seitsinger said parents already have expressed concern about the potential large class size, and he is monitoring the class size as registrations continue to come in prior to the start of school Aug. 30.

c.bessette@theday.com