BOE Closes Out Summer and Looks Forward to School Year

It seemed like the calm before the storm as the Board of Education conducted its final regular meeting before the start fo the school year. With all the changes in the district between school reorganization and new bus routes, members wished staff, students, and parents a smooth start for the new school year.

With the reorganization of the schools by grade levels, the board acknowledged the anxiety of parents, students and staff for the coming school year. They stressd, however, that the beginning of school always gives rise to issues.

"We always have issues to work out in the first few weeks of school. The restructuring is not necessarily the cause of these issues." member Tom Sirard said.

Because of the entirely revised bus routes, the first few days and weeks will be critical for school officials to know an accurate count of bus riders.

Member Charles Johnson III urged, "if you have a student that takes thebus please let them take the bus for the first week. So we can make a good determination of the capacity of the bus and know the times of the stops and the routes."

Superintendent John Gallacher reported that traffic concerns at JFK School were being addressed. The school will have three crossing guard locations. He said the traffic issues at all schools will be looked at as the school year begins and traffic pattern can be identified.

Chairman Greg Stokes repeated the announcement that superintendent Gallacher would be retiring June 30, 2012, and that a search for a new superintendent was already underway. After an executive session, board members voted changes to Gallacher's contract concerning health care and life insurance issues brought on by the retirement.

Teachers officially report back to school on August 29, 2011 for four days of planned activities. The first day of classes for students is September 6, 2011.

Board member Peter Jonaitis summed up the feelings of the board with the statement, "the anxiety, the nervousness, and the stress will then turn to excitable energy and learning will take place."