Superintendent's Update January 24,2015

Post date: Jan 26, 2015 2:32:06 AM

Yesterday marked the end of the first semester of the 2014-2015 school year. Report cards will be distributed once teachers have the opportunity to review student assignments and assessments and enter grades. Each building will be notifying parents as to when report cards will be issued.

The building project continues on schedule and it is very exciting to observe the erection of the steel structure. Shawmut plans to wrap Building A this upcoming week in order to heat the area and continue work with the pouring of the first and second floor slabs. Today I posted photos on our building Facebook page (Lunenburg Middle/High School Building Project) which show the progress on the auditorium. Meeting minutes, schedule, additional photos, and other information related to the project is updated regularly at our website https://sites.google.com/a/lunenburgschools.net/school-building-project/ .

The proposed FY16 School Department Budget is posted at the website for public review http://www.lunenburgschools.net/school-committee-1/budget . A presentation of this budget will be made to the FinCom at a televised meeting on March 5, 2015. The budget hearing is yet to be scheduled.

I also want to make you aware that the School Committee has scheduled a workshop meeting on Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. in room #13 of the Thomas C. Passios building. The workshop is to discuss naming of the school buildings and technology. We are investigating the feasibility of a one-on-one computer for students in grades 10-12. The meeting is open to the public.

School Start Times

The Calendar Advisory appointed by the School Committee is currently examining school start times. The Advisory will meet this Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 7:15 p.m. in room #13 of the Thomas C. Passios Building. The school principals and members of our faculty and staff will also be present to discuss the implications of later start times for middle and high school students. Two documents on this topic are posted for parents/guardians to review at http://www.lunenburgschools.net/district-news-information/schoolstarttimes . Changing school start times for middle and high school students impacts start times for all students in the district, so this is a conversation that must include all members of our school community. The Calendar Advisory will report to the School Committee in March. Meetings, agendas, and minutes of the Advisory and the School Committee are posted online at http://www.lunenburgma.gov/ .

Personnel Update

There have been some personnel changes around the district in the past several months. Alex Smith who wored as a technician in the technology department relocated to another state and Jordan Pochini a Lunenburg resident and recent graduate in computer science from FSU has been hired to that position. THMS evening custodian David Dawson left for other employment opportunities. Mr. Robby Comeau, has joined us as an evening custodian at Turkey Hill Middle School. Robby is an Army veteran who served in Iraq and is currently studying as an HVAC technician at Porter and Chester Institute. Howard Hargreaves has joined the staff as a part time evening custodian at Turkey Hill Middle School. He has lived in Lunenburg for the last 17 years and his son attended Lunenburg Schools. Joe Conry ha s joined the maintenance staff as a part time evening custodian at Lunenburg Primary School. He is an Army veteran and is a student at Mount Wachusett Community College. Ms. Dawn DeFreitas who served as administrative assistant at THMS and TCP prior to moving to her current position in Special Education is leaving the state. Ms. Fran McCluskey who is currently at THMS will be returning to the special education position she held previously. Ms. Laurie Cooney has been hired as the administrative assistant at THMS. Ms. Cooney is a Lunenburg resident. She was employed by the district as a kindergarten aide from 2003-2007 and her children attended the Lunenburg Public Schools. We want to thank Alex, David, and Dawn for their many years of service to our students and schools. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors. We welcome the new members of our staff and appreciate their commitment to serving the students, their families and the faculty and staff of the schools.

FY16 Calendar – Draft for Public Input (attached) & Policy Updates

The FY16 proposed calendar was developed with the goal of ending school as early as possible in June, 2016 in order to move into the new school and onto the second phase of the project. Phase 2 includes roadway and parking lot development, the demolition of the old school and construction of the new athletic fields. For this reason please note that a shortened February Break is being recommended. The School Committee is seeking input on the calendar prior to adoption.

Also open for public comment and feedback are several policies including revisions to policies #5104 & 5409 Student Discipline; #3202 Tuition Fee s; #3504 Emergency Drills; and new policies on Environmentally Sustainable Practices and the creation of a Diversity Advisory Committee. Policies under review can be found at http://www.lunenburgschools.net/school-committee-1/policy-under-review.

Parents/Guardians and the public are encouraged to review the attached calendar and the policies and provide public comment to the School Committee no later than January 30, 2015. Feedback can be mailed to the Superintendent’s Office, 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462 or sent via email to lpetersen@lun enburgonline.com.

PTO Happenings!

The next meeting of the PTO is scheduled for February 9, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. in room #13 of the Thomas C. Passios Building. On the agenda are updates from the buildings and various school programs. The PTO has also scheduled a fun family movie matinee on Sunday February 8^th. Despicable Me 2 will be shown at 1:30 in the Primary School Gym. Please bring a canned good as your entrance fee to help stock the Lunenburg food pantry shelves. Popcorn, candy & water will be on sale (no outside food permitted). Bring your own pillows, blanket and stuffed animals to get comfy with! This is a family event, so please no drop offs. PTO is making a difference! If your schedule does not allow you to volunteer in the schools or attend meetings, there are many ways to be in volved. This year the PTO established a membership goal of 300 family members. Please help them reach that goal. Join today at www.lunenburgpto.org A family membership is only $15 and online payments can be made through Pay Pal.

FY16 Pre-School Lottery Registration

Parents who wish to register their child for entrance into the Lunenburg Public Preschool lottery for the 2015-2016 school year should come to register for the lottery the week of February 9th thru February 13th, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. To register for the pre-school lottery, your child must be 3 or 4 years old on or before August 31, 2015. This program is tuition based. The Lunenburg Primary School is located at 1401 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462. The lottery drawing will be held on February 27th @ 1:30 pm at the Primary School. Parents are not required to be present at the drawing. All parents are notified of the outcome of the lottery within ten school days. Preschool Screening will be scheduled for March 27th. Please call 978-582-4122, ext. 3102 for further information.

FY16 Kindergarten Registration

Children who are five (5) years old by August 31, 2015 are eligible to attend Kindergarten in Lunenburg. The Kindergarten program is a full-day program (9:00 am to 3:20 pm) five days a week. There is no tuition charge for full-day Kindergarten in Lunenburg. Kindergarten registration will be held the week of February 1 thru February 22. To register you must go to: https://lunenburg.schoolofficepro.com/ParentPortal/Pages/login.aspx

After completing the online registration parents/guardians may come to the office the week of February 23-27 between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00 with a parent/guardian photo ID, the child’s birth certificate, legal custody form (if applicable), a copy of a recent physical & immunizations, three proofs of residency (check our website for acceptable proofs of residency), if applicable, a copy of the students IEP or 504 plan.

Kindergarten screenings will be held May 13, 14, and 15 by appointment only. This appointment will be scheduled once you have completed the online registration and bring in the required items listed above.

Please call 978-582-4122 ext. 3102 with questions.

Department of Transitional Assistance Cultural Partnerships

In addition to the programs that DTA administers to help clients meet their most basic needs, the Department has partnerships with educational and cultural institutions across the Commonwealth that clients can take advantage of by showing their EBT card upon admission. For more information: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dta/dta-partnerships-.html

Sincerely,

Superint endent Calmes

Lunenburg Public Schools

1025 Mass. Ave.

Lunenburg, MA 01462

978-582-4100 X 210 (Office Phone)

978-582-4103 (Fax)