In an effort to engage public feedback on its Vision 2028 Strategic Plan, the Old Rochester Regional School District held a four-session public forum over Monday and Tuesday.

            Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning, presided over the process that in the third session held Tuesday afternoon, saw mostly school administrators gathered in the ORR Junior High media center.

            Fedorowicz outlined an opportunity for community members and stakeholders to move forward a five-year plan emanating from the ORR School District’s stated mission “to inspire all students to think, learn and care.”

            Breaking down the mission statement, the “think” aspect asks the school community to foster a culture of excellence and integrity, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. The “learn” aspect strives for excellence, and the “care” aspect spreads a sense of belonging among all students.

            Fedorowicz identified Core Values as “what we live by as we go through this process,” Theory of Action as hypothesizing implementation by conceptualizing the “portrait of a graduate” and Equitable as “applies to everybody.”

            The Strategic Plan Process is meant to establish initiatives followed by quality plan review.

            “Where we’re at right now is a public forum for community input,” said Fedrowicz, focusing on objectives, strengths and opportunities.

            After organizing information emanating from breakout groups, participants left exit tickets for the administration’s consumption.

            In dedicating 10 minutes per topic, Tuesday afternoon’s smaller gathering allowed for the World Cafe Method (whole group) to share ideas. Teaching and learning (curriculum, support systems), climate and culture and an equitable learning environment were all addressed.

            Participants were asked to discuss elements they feel proud of, identify opportunities and articulate questions or concerns. They were charged with identifying two priority values and two future opportunities to share with the team.

            ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber spoke about ancillary services such as tech, food and transportation, seeking feedback as to efficiencies and deficiencies. He said that regarding tech, ORR advanced from the 1980s in a short time.

            Barber discussed the progress made in building security, including identity verification, scanning and in the buildings’ overall safety platform. “There are not a lot of entries and exits,” he said.

            Systems monitoring activities so that security can “know who everyone is.”

            Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, in attendance, asked about the cyber-security piece, noting that computer-system hacking is growing nationwide. Barber said that three years ago, ORR conducted a security poll only to be sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

            Barber said that while finances used to have a simple 2% annual increase, ORR is now looking at all enrollment-influenced factors based on a dollar value per student. Tech replacement cycles are now built into the budget, which has to be able to address a 25% replacement of Chromebooks and the like.

            Lorenco said that Capital Planning in Mattapoisett has improved, putting items on the committee’s list that did not appear in prior years. He offered the ORR District help with any issues where the town can be of assistance.

            Barber noted that bonds will be paid up as of June 2025, so the administration is conducting walk-throughs with Facilities Director Gene Jones.

            Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois also participated in the Climate and Culture aspect, defining the goal of the team to create as inclusive and equitable an education as possible for students and families.

            Asked what is new about that, Sirois said surveys always yield something about a building’s culture, especially as the community evolves and the school gains a better understanding as to what the “school community needs from us.”

            ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll, who attended Monday night’s session as well as Tuesday afternoon’s, said ORR is focused on communication and strengthening community involvement and is working with Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School on seeking consistent involvement from the community to try to bring some uniformity.

            A parent with children in both school systems said ORR can improve on its response time to emailed questions and in the content of those responses. Canned responses from emails, she said, are not cutting it.

            Multiple parents, she explained, have emailed about a safety issue in a classroom, answered by a response saying safety is our number-one priority.

            “If you’re getting that, it means others are,” said Director of Student Services Craig Davidson, calling it “great feedback.”

            School Committee member Matthew Monteiro discussed the struggle of lower-income students getting into the Advanced Placement classes at the same rate as others who are not outperforming them. “That’s a strength we’re trying to get information on,” he said.

            Fedorowicz encouraged participants to email follow-up questions.

            Crediting Doreen Lopes, Davidson discussed family engagement and tiered interventions to close the gap for students not able to speak or read in English. He said the ORR District has approximately 74 different reading programs or interventions, a number the district is trying to narrow down.

            ORR’s recent literacy program is meant to standardize curriculum for the younger learners so that when those students come together at the junior high, achieving consistency becomes realistic.

            Support systems, it was noted, have been successful, but educator Colin Everett said that while “scaffolding” is necessary, ORR should have a plan to take scaffolding away “and let the student go into the world.”

Joint School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            It’s been a mighty long time since a new wooden boat was launched from the historic wharves located in Mattapoisett’s harbor, but the long wait is over. On Friday, June 16, the Acorn to Arabella boat will arrive in Mattapoisett. Food trucks are planned to set up around 3:00 pm.

            Saturday will find the crew and associated volunteers busy with the 10:00 am launch time and ceremonial speeches before the christening. If all goes to plan, the boat will be launched by 10:30 am. At 11:30 am, live music will entertain the public, but tours of the vessel will be for major donors and patrons only on Saturday. Food trucks will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

            Sunday will find the food trucks open by 10:00 am, and public tours will begin with music at 11:30 am. Tours will end at 4:00 pm. There will be a fee to board the ship.

            The board also discussed a number of major projects still in the cue.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco updated a fairly long list that included a meeting planned for June 27 with PARE, the engineering firm working on Phase 2a of the Mattapoisett multiuse pathway aka, the bike path. Lorenco also said that test borings will begin on Long Wharf on July 22, a procedure to determine the current condition of the wharf’s underpinnings.

            Lorenco said that the 25% engineered drawings for Main Street repairs is now in the hands of MassDOT for comment. He said comments most likely won’t be received for several months. Other roadway-related projects noted included the reconstruction of Pearl Street, along with another meeting in the coming months with MassDOT; this time the topic will be the Route 6 corridor and ideas for improvements.

            Regarding grants, Lorenco said that those will be sought for building reconstruction at the Holy Ghost Grounds in the range of $500,000 and that parking pay stations may also be founded with grant monies in the future.

            An ATV vehicle considered by both the Fire and Police departments as worthy life-safety equipment is another item the town is seeking a grant to fund. Filings have been made, Lorenco stated.

            Rounding out the projects list, Lorenco added that dredging between wharves was still pending, as a viable solution for disposing of the spoils had not been found to date. This may become another grant request.

            Earlier in the meeting, the board approved the sale of several surplus mowers and other obsolete equipment and made numerous appointments for a wide ranging variety of positions, everything from the antiquated sounding “measurer of wood and bark” to “fence viewers.” There were, however, many more positions the general public could grasp such as committee appointments for cemeteries to weights and measures.

            While going through the pages of appointments, the board took the time to do a bit of committee housekeeping by dissolving the Flood Plain Advisory Board, the Bike and Pedestrian committee, and the Recreation Committee.

            Before adjournment, the board asked the public to consider becoming a member of the town’s Scholarship Committee. The town has money waiting to be distributed to applicants through a process that allows taxpayers to donate money through a form attached to real estate invoices. Interested parties should contact the Select Board office.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, time to be announced.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell