Superintendent's Report to SC 6.26.19

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee

June 26, 2019

End of Year Celebrations

• SHS Graduation
• Middle School Moving On
• Elementary Moving On ceremonies

Other Personnel Changes

• We have hired the Clarke School Principal who will begin on July 1st as well.
• Mrs. Hunt will graciously spend some time transitioning with the new principal.
• Director of Teaching and Learning, Jean Bacon’s office will be moving to the High School along with Donna McHugh her administrative assistant.
• Ms. Martha Raymond has been named Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

Summer Facilities Projects

• District Crisis Team - Safety and Security
• Install and repair common area speakers at the elementary schools
• Swipe cards at the elementary schools
• Security window film in various places at various schools
• Continue to install windows in principal and counselor interior doors
• Security camera work (replacement and repairs) continues at the middle and high schools
• Boiler Replacement RFQ 
• Various painting projects
• Various classroom moves
• Office build at Stanley
• Phase 3 of High School Gym Sprinklers
• Gym duct cleaning and duct connector replacement at SMS
• Cogenerator Elbow and Glycol replacement at HS

June 7th - Statehouse Recognition

On June 7th we were recognized at a ceremony with Commissioner Riley for our National Blue Ribbon Award.

Curriculum Update

• Summer Curriculum Work
• 11 proposals spanning grades K-12 were submitted for approval
• 9 have been approved, waiting on two to respond to questions
• Work includes MS and HS social studies with new standards, developing modules for mandatory health training, SEI, Growth Mindset, Swift/Harbor
• Pilots and Text Reviews 
• K-5 Math In Focus Pilot
• Spanish Texts - 7-12 - One class set and online - 6 years
• Grade 3 Social Studies texts - Massachusetts Our Home
• Grade 4 Social Studies texts - Regions of Our Country
• K-4 Science and Math online digital subscriptions - 1-year extensions

Superintendent's Report to SC 5.22.19

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee

May 22, 2019

High School Administrative Team

• I have named the current Dean of Students, Colleen Cull-Finn the new Assistant Principal at Swampscott High School beginning July 1, 2019.
• Colleen demonstrates the leadership skills of an Assistant Principal and will be a great mentor to any new Dean who fills her current position.
• She is student-centered, has great relationships with both students and staff, she is a hard worker and puts in long hours.
• They will be posting the Dean of Students position.

Clarke School Principal

• The posting closes next Tuesday.
• We currently have 25 candidates
• Communication has been sent to parents, staff, and administrators inviting them, if interested, to be a member of the interview committee. When the posting closes, we will be selecting members.

Budget Decisions for FY20 at the High School

• There has been some misinformation out there regarding the HS teachers and budget decisions for FY20 so I would like to take a moment to clarify.
• A high school science teacher resigned to work for a non-profit
• The high school library/media specialist POSITION was eliminated. I want to reiterate, the position not the person. This position is no longer a requirement for NEASC Accreditation as it was 7 or so years ago, with the last go round.
• Another HS science teacher was reduced from a 1.0 to a .6 FTE. This was simply due to teaching caseload.
• A .6 HS English teacher was eliminated, again due to teaching caseload and class size.

MASC/MASS Joint Conference

• This year’s conference is being held in Hyannis November 6-9th
• Lytania and I have submitted two proposals for breakout sessions:
• Thanks for the Feedback: Using Google Forms to quickly solicit feedback and generate data
• Leveraging Technology for collaborative and effective meetings
• If one or both of our proposals are accepted, we will be looking for at least two School Committee members to join us at the conference

Using Social Media to Encourage Summer Reading at SMS

https://sites.google.com/swampscott.k12.ma.us/sms-library/sms-librarymedia-center

Launch of Governor’s Public Awareness Campaign: RESPECTfully

• Promote healthy relationships among middle and high schoolers
• Launching next week: the week of May 26th
• Increase awareness of what constitutes a healthy relationship, emphasizes the need for respect in relationships and helps teens identify the escalating behaviors that may lead to unhealthy and unsafe relationships.
• Short videos, modern animations, via social media platforms
• Directed at youth between the ages of 12-18, as well as their parents and caregivers.
• https://www.mass.gov/respectfully

Superintendent's Report to SC 5.8.19

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee

May 8, 2019

Director of Teaching & Learning

• I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Ms. Jean Bacon, a 27-year educator from Western Massachusetts and Vermont, as the new Director of Teaching & Learning who will begin with us on July 1, 2019.
• The position was formerly known as Director of Curriculum and Instruction and has been vacant since November 2018.
• Ms. Bacon, who has served as principal of Pioneer Valley Regional School District in Northfield, Mass. since 2016, served as administrator for teaching and learning in North Adams Public Schools from 2004-16. She also taught math and science in North Adams. Jean was an assistant professor of sociology at Williams College from 1992-2001.
• In her role, Jean’s primary focus will be K-12 curriculum ensuring that the district is aligned with Massachusetts frameworks. She will also oversee professional development.
• Jean brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this critical position. She believes in a collaborative approach that will serve her well.

High School Assistant Principal Search

• Yielded two finalists
• Neither accepted the position
• We have reopened the position

Clarke School Principal

• Earlier this week, Mrs. Hunt accepted a principal position in the Andover Public Schools
• We posted this position yesterday afternoon and already have 10 applicants
• I anticipate forming an interview committee composed of teachers/staff, parents, and administrators.