Litchfield County students head back to school with focus of career and school culture

LITCHFIELD, CT (WFSB) - Students across Litchfield County returned to the classroom on Friday.

It marked the first day of school for Regional School District 20, the newest regional school district.

District 20, now in its second year, was formed through the merger of the Litchfield Public Schools and former Region 6 schools, which served students from Morris, Warren, and Goshen.

Students from all four towns attend Lakeview High School, the district’s regional high school.

This school year also marked the first full academic year under Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Villar, who said the district is committed to ensuring all students feel connected to their education, whether they’re preparing for college or entering the workforce directly after graduation.

“The goal is climate and culture,” Villar said. “The Board of Education made that one of my primary goals, so we are really interested in learning how kids feel about school, what adults feel about school, and making Region 20 a really good experience.”

In addition to the creation of a welcoming and engaging environment, Region 20 worked to expand academic offerings beyond traditional college preparation.

Villar emphasized the importance of vocational training and career readiness for students exploring alternative post-graduation paths.

“It’s super important,” he said. “At the end of the day, you have to have training if you want to become educated and be able to participate in our society. There are no non-technical jobs anymore. So no matter what you choose, you’re going to have some post-high school training.”

District officials said they planned to continue expanding their programming this year to better serve the diverse needs and interests of students throughout the region.

School was slated to begin at 7:50 a.m. at Lakeview High School.