Back to Classroom Basics

            As member Tiffini Reedy noted in welcoming back Mattapoisett Schools Principal Rose Bowman, the Mattapoisett School Committee’s Monday night meeting was one of celebration on the eve of an opening day of the 2021-22 academic year.

            The mood was enhanced by anticipation of starting the school year with Mattapoisett students in the classroom.

            The Old Rochester Regional School District had no such opportunity last year, as the coronavirus pandemic leveraged a hybrid attendance program for the vast majority of students that would peak at two in-school days per week, while others learned in a fully remote format. This lasted through the winter until Grades K-2 came back full time, followed shortly thereafter by Grades 3-6 and ultimately Grades 6-12 with approximately a month remaining in the 2020-21 school year.

            Bowman, beset with illness during the 2020-21 year, was thrilled to be back but even more thrilled to be back for the district’s shift in emphasis away from strategizing around COVID-19 back toward teaching and learning.

            “We’re very grateful to be coming into the year with a plan focused on education,” said Bowman. “We learned from the pandemic.” Moreover, Bowman focused on the beginning of the collaboration between the home and school.

            In her report, Bowman reported 250 students in Project Grow as of last week. After gaining 13 students and losing six, Old Hammondtown School has 183 of the 433 elementary school students in the ORR District. Center School, which also lost six students, has 16 new students including six Kindergarteners. The net result is a slight decrease, according to Bowman.

            “Our focus this year is back on teaching and learning, and we’re very fortunate to have tools to peek into the world. We’re going to use data in a way we haven’t used it before,” said Associate Principal Kevin Tavares. “The school looks great inside and out, water fountain installed, the technology is up to snuff. Both schools look great.”

            In his Opening Day update, ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson thanked many hands and said, “I can’t wait to welcome back students on Tuesday.”

            ORR held its first Acceleration Academy, a one-week intensive camp, in late August. “It was just awe-inspiring,” said Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jannell Pearson-Campbell, who summarized summer programming and anticipates the faculty’s first professional development day on September 22.

            “We’re really proud that we committed to the Acceleration Academy,” said Nelson, noting other summer programming of longer duration. “We had children in our classes for seven weeks… I’m really excited about shifting our focus to teaching and learning.”

            In preparing staff for the new academic year, Pearson-Campbell reported on featured speaker Keith Davis of the Say Yes Institute, whose message that all students have the ability to be winners found application in what Pearson-Campbell called “filling the gaps for the students” and “always giving the students another chance to succeed.”

            Member Carly Lavin suggested to Pearson-Campbell that parents-guardians be weaved into the development dialogue. “I think there’s great aptitude in this community for parent involvement,” she said.

            Reedy asked about helping families with children in Grades K-2 catch up. Pearson-Campbell referenced Aimsweb and I-Excel assessments that identify students’ strengths and weaknesses from Grade 3 through Grade 10. She called I-Excel a parent-friendly report and a holistic piece.

            “We never want to look at just one data point,” said Nelson, noting that teachers are collecting data daily and weekly. “Students might be meeting benchmarks and need a different intervention.” He praised the committee members for their questions, saying “We want to make sure our schools keep getting better and better.”

            Acting as chairperson in Jim Muse’s absence, Lavin introduced three new staff members, including Brent Alger (music) and Patricia Cooney (math). Meantime, Diane Leroy and Lisa Hill retired, and three other staffers moved on.

            “We’re very excited to have schools open five days a week,” said Lavin. “Remember what it’s like through the eyes of a child. They’re a little anxious, a little nervous, but they’re very excited.”

            The Mattapoisett School Committee reorganized. Karyn Barrows will remain on the Joint School Committee on the Superintendency Union #55 side with Carole Clifford serving as her alternate.

            Clifford, who returned from a short retirement to fill a vacancy, volunteered to serve on the Anti-Racism Subcommittee and on Capital Planning. Lavin volunteered to fill the Budget Subcommittee vacancy, and the School Committee voted Muse as its MASC delegate.

            Tavares told the committee that for the first time in 10 years the Student Handbook had been reworked and this time in concert with Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros and Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois to achieve consistency in policy, content, and format.             Mattapoisett’s handbook has shrunk from 59 pages to 39 and now focuses on issues such as riding the bus, school nurse, anti-racism, COVID-19, and the use of facemasks.

            Lavin asked for a review and an effort to make gender designations consistent on the elementary level. Nelson said that, given the natural course of COVID-related updates, there will be opportunities for further review and revision.

            Reedy asked, in light of potential vaccine approval being anticipated for emergencies under age 12, how would updating the Student Handbook affect the mask mandate. Nelson said the district is allowed to remain flexible.

            The committee voted to accept the new Student Handbook based on Lavin’s motion conditioning approval with the understanding that the school will review for inclusion and COVID-related updates.

            In his Financial Report, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber announced that, per the USDA, all students will be eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. Extra meals will be charged, same as snacks. The Titan K-12 web system is open, and parents can deposit funds into the childrens’ accounts. Menus will be posted on the school website.

            According to Barber, March 13, 2020 is the last time any student paid for a meal in the ORR School District.

            In addition to offseason building maintenance and cleaning of HVAC systems, sanitation, fire, sprinkler, grills and inspection thereof at both Center School and Old Hammondtown, HVAC evaluations will be conducted while in full operation with students in the buildings.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for Monday, September 27, in hybrid format, and the next meeting of the ORR Joint School Committee/Superintendency Union #55 will be held on Thursday, September 23, via Zoom. Both meetings begin at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo

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