Superintendent's Report to SC 10.27.21

  

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee

October 27, 2021

International Travel Presentation:

• Jessica Gahm-Diaz - Foreign Language Department Chair

• Trips to Portugal and Spain - April 2022

District Crisis Team Update:

• October 7, 2021 - Topics included

• Distribution of 21-22 building Crisis and Medical Response Plans to town departments.

• Improved drop off at the Middle School

• Crossing guard shortage and issues

• Go Guardian Teacher and Go Guardian Beacon alert systems reviewed for new members of the team.

MA Family-School Partnership Initiative:

• “Events of 2020 have only highlighted what we have known for decades: engaging with families and caregivers is essential to student success. Recognizing families as assets and creating intentional pathways for collaboration are key to creating learning environments where students can thrive.”

• Our district has been selected to participate in the spring cohort

• DESE pays for the cost of training, coaching, and strategic support.

Vaccine Clinics 

• Tentative dates: November 23rd and December 16th

• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for students ages 5-11 (approval date is set for Nov. 3)

• Also, COVID boosters for adults and common flu vaccines

• More details with be forthcoming

Calendar Change - Professional Development Days

• After the last two years of disrupted learning, I have rethought the Professional Development Days we proposed on the school calendar this year. 

• I recommend that the School Committee modify the calendar to do away with the Early Release Days previously scheduled for professional development.

• The following days would now be regular school days: 

• Dec.8 (Middle School would still have ER for conferences)

• Jan. 12 

• Feb. 9

• March 9

• May 25

Mask Mandate Extension

• Commissioner Riley announced yesterday that he is extending the mask mandate through at least January 15, 2022.

• For more information, click here

Human Resources Manager 

• This School Department position was posted on October 18, 2021

• We have nine applications to date

• We will begin reviewing these applications, an interview team, and then schedule interviews. 

• HR Manager Job Posting