News of the District

The School Committee met on Tuesday, October 9th and did quite a bit of business. First was a presentation of our MCAS results from the Spring 2012. If you would like to see more about that presentation, click here.

In other business, the Committee received an updated budget for FY 2013. The bottom line remains the same, but summer hiring and other adjustments were made to the lines within the budget to better reflect  what the budget actually looks like for this year. They also heard reports from the Property & Transportation Subcommittee with regard to a lighting program that would change most of our parking lot lights at the schools to LED bulbs, saving money and energy, along with an engineering report on the Tadgell School, which we are looking to bring back on line for educational, administrative, and town purposes. They also approved a bid for snow removal at the schools - which we hope not to use before winter! The Personnel & Policy Subcommittee updated the School Committee regarding our search for a new Director of Student Support Services and approved a revised job description for the position.

The Search Committee for the new Director of Student Support Services met and began interviews for the position on Thursday. We have more to do on Tuesday of this week and hope to identify 2 finalists for the School Committee to consider on October 23rd.

Our Athletic Department is going to walk in the Rays of Hope Walk in Springfield on Sunday, October 28th. Teams began fundraising efforts over the weekend for this endeavor. Our boys' and girls' soccer teams hosted Westfield on Saturday, October 13th, and the gate receipts and some of the concessions will go toward the event. Rays of Hope is an annual walk, sponsored by Baystate Medical Center, to raise money for breast cancer treatment and research. Other "Think Pink" events include:

• October 15^th, 2012 – Golf (3PM)
• October 16^th, 2012 – Boys and Girls Cross Country (3:45PM)
• October 22^nd, 2012 – Girls Volleyball (6PM)
• October 27th, 2012 - Football (2:30 PM).

I encourage you to come out and support your favorite team, wear pink to these events, and help raise money for this worthy cause! I will be walking with our athletes this year in memory of my mother, who passed away a year ago from this disease. I appreciate Mr. Marchewka's (our Athletic Director), leadership and his encouragement of our athletes to give back to the community in this way.

As always, feel free to contact me with your questions and comments at 413.323.0423.

Best regards, Dr. Judith Houle, Superintendent of Schools