NEWPORT — Robert Wargo, who most recently served as a superintendent in Rhode Island, has been hired as the new interim superintendent for the Newport School District.
Wargo will replace Forrest Ransdell, who arrived in Newport from the Manchester School District and served one year as interim. Wargo’s contract begins July 1.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as interim superintendent of the Newport School District,” Wargo said in an email. “Throughout the selection process, I observed the community’s strong commitment to supporting and educating every student. I look forward to working with the dedicated school board, exceptional educators, and for the talented students of SAU 43.”
The board voted at its meeting Thursday to accept the contract with Wargo. He will earn the same salary as Ransdell, $145,000.
Wargo declined to give his age in a brief phone conversation Friday, but confirmed that he worked as superintendent of the Barrington, R.I., school district for one year, resigning effective June 30, 2025.
Wargo signed a three-contract in Barrington before the 2024-25 school year, according to July report by EastBayRI. In spring of 2025, Wargo was publicly identified as an candidate for the interim superintendent’s job in Brookline, Mass.
On June 30, Wargo told staff in an email he would resign after the 2025-26 school year, but hours later, he resigned following a closed-door meeting with the Barrington School Committee, the report said. In Barrington, Wargo was reportedly making $265,000.
In a phone interview, Wargo interrupted when a reporter began to ask questions about his departure from Barrington. Wargo said he would email a written statement instead, but the statement he sent did not address the circumstances in Barrington.
Prior to his time in Barrington he was superintendent of the Weymouth, Mass., school district from 2021 to 2024.
Neither Ransdell nor Newport School Board Chairwoman Nikki Murphy would comment on why Ransdell contract was not extended, given Wargo still has the interim tag.
Ransdell did not apply for the superintendent’s position in nearby Claremont, he said.
Ransdell replaced Donna Magoon, who resigned last April and left the district at the end of last school year. She was hired in 2022.
A committee of 11, which included administrators, teachers and community members, reviewed nine applications that were submitted when the job was posted on Jan. 17, School Board member Melissa Mitchler said Friday.
Also Thursday, the board voted to use the same hiring committee that chose Wargo for the search for a permanent superintendent.
The committee will resume its work after the school year concludes, Mitchler said.
“We will be meeting to work on identifying what it is we want in a superintendent,” Mitchler said. “We want to post the job in the fall.”
Patrick O’Grady can be reached a pogclmt@gmail.com.