Norwich — New Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow officially started on Monday, but in the past two months, she has spent days in each city school, met with principals, some school board members, attended school budget meetings and has held numerous meetings with administrative staff.

“So, I don’t feel new anymore,” Stringfellow said Wednesday in her office at 90 Town St.

On Sunday, Stringfellow, her husband, mother and four adult children carried boxes of books, a Monet print, photos, professional certificates and personal touches to convert the office held by retired Superintendent Abby Dolliver for the past nine years into her own space.

“With a touch of Abby,” Stringfellow said.

She hung the sign that says “Welcome” in 19 different languages on her door. “I love that sign,” she said. Her mother, Judith Provorse, shelved her books alphabetically and by genre, and her husband, Peter Stringfellow made sure all the wall hangings were straight.

Stringfellow, 52, was named Norwich superintendent by the Board of Education April 23. She had spent 10 years as superintendent in South Kingstown, R.I. She was named Rhode Island superintendent of the year in 2017. But her last several months in South Kingstown proved rocky with a new school committee. Shortly after her Norwich appointment, she was placed on paid leave in South Kingstown as school officials there investigated whether she made mistakes in issuing potential teacher layoff notices during the budgeting process.

Stringfellow insisted she did the notices correctly by school district policies. The situation remained unresolved as her resignation took effect at the end of June.

“I wish them well,” Stringfellow said. “My heart is going to be forever with the students and families of South Kingstown. I’ve spent one-fifth of my life there.”

She says it’s too early to assess the Norwich school district’s most critical issue, the school budget. The school board anticipates a nearly $2 million deficit in the 2018-19 fiscal year just ended. On June 11, the school board officially adopted the City Council approved $81.03 million 2019-20 school budget, which was $2 million short of what school officials said was needed.

Board Chairwoman Yvette Jacaruso cited Stringfellow's strong financial background in the board's enthusiastic endorsement of her selection. Stringfellow earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and education at Rhode Island College, a master’s degree in early childhood/elementary education at Rhode Island College and her administration degree at Providence College. She earned her doctorate in educational finance from Johnson and Wales University.

She has been an adjunct professor teaching school finance at Providence College since 2007.

"To start the fiscal year knowing we have a deficit is not a good practice," Stringfellow said. "I was hoping it could be resolved. I will do my best to find cost efficiencies and savings, but having sat through many of those meetings, I don't know if there are any."

Stringfellow said Norwich’s heavy reliance on grants to fund basic needs in the school budget — about 40 percent of Norwich public school staff are grant-funded — is not recommended. Grants, she said, are supposed to provide extras, such as for low-income students, special needs students and English language learners. She acknowledged that Norwich school leaders have had no choice but to aggressively pursue grants.

“The operating budget is supposed to fully fund a free and appropriate public education,” she said, “and the grants are supposed to give you more.”

This week, Stringfellow has had several meetings with Assistant Superintendent Thomas Baird, School Business Administrator Athena Nagel and Director of Student Services Jamie Bender to work on her first 100 days plan. She is sending invitations to meet one-on-one with city officials, civic leaders and regional educators.

Her growing list so far includes Mayor Peter Nystrom, the City Council, City Manager John Salomone, school board members, police and fire chiefs, Uncas Health District, William W. Backus Hospital officials, the NAACP, directors of city Recreation and Human Services, the city comptroller and other superintendents.

She already has met with Norwich teachers and teachers’ union leaders, and extensively with Dolliver.

“Abby was so generous with her time,” Stringfellow said. “I spent several full days with her, Tom and Athena and Jamie. That was a gift.”

In May and June, Stringfellow spent a day in each school, arriving before students to watch the buses unload. She met with each principal for about 90 minutes, greeted and met with parents.

“I was able to get the unique character of every school,” Stringfellow said. “Some schools planned my visit with student activities, which was great.”

Her impression: “Abby Dolliver built a culture in this district that’s completely student oriented,” Stringfellow said. She watched principals and teachers greet students by name and quickly assess their outlook.

One kindergarten teacher noticed a fifth grader looked upset getting off the bus. The teacher took him aside and invited him to help her with the kindergarten class that morning, Stringfellow recalled. The boy quickly cheered up, given an important task, Stringfellow said.

“It’s different here,” Stringfellow said. “It’s all hands on deck to greet the students in the morning and make sure they are ready for their day. It should be that way in every school. It is here.”

c.bessette@theday.com