Mauro Confirmed As Director of Special Services

School officials appointed Kara Mauro as the full time Director of Special Services for the Lynnfield School District.  In a 4-1 vote, the school committee approved Mauro as the Director of Special Services through June 30, 2014.  Committee member Michael Craffey submitted the only dissenting vote, having expressed his intention to do so at the previous meeting.

Lynnfield parent Dan Macintyre praised Mauro for her work with special education students.  “The time that I have had the opportunity to work with Kara Mauro has been outstanding.  She really thinks outside of the box.  Her accessibility has been unprecedented,” said Macintyre.  “She’s really a strong team person in team meetings.” 

Prior to Mauro’s appointment, district Technology Director Joe Piazza offered the committee an interactive presentation showcasing new technology at the high school.  During the meeting committee members joined Piazza in the LHS Humanities Laboratory.  Piazza showcased the lab’s new Apple TV which he connected to his iPad.  He explained that what appears on his iPad can be mirrored on the Apple TV.  Piazza said that this technology will be a great teaching tool for teachers and also a great learning tool for students. 

“With the new deployments that they’ve done with the software for the iPads, the new iPhone, and the iPod touches, you can actually mirror what’s on your iPad and display it to the classroom,” Piazza said.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Jefferson informed the committee about upcoming “Talks with Tom,” which will be community coffee meetings with the Superintendent.  The next “Talk with Tom” will be held on Friday, February 3, at 9:30am at Huckleberry Hill School.  These meetings are intended for Lynnfield community members to ask questions and voice their concerns to the Superintendent.  “The more I learn about the district, the more impressed that I am with the people,” Jefferson said. 

The Superintendent also plans on making it to see all of the Lynnfield High School winter sports teams over the next few weeks.  “Both the basketball and hockey team are great to watch,” said Jefferson.  “We’ve got tremendous coaches and you can see the spirit and camaraderie in really all the sporting events that I’ve been too.”

Lynnfield Middle School music teacher Stephen Bloom also appeared before the committee to discuss the upcoming Middle School Pioneer Singers trip to New York.  “I have applied for the group to perform at Trinity Church,” Bloom said.  Trinity has one of the most acclaimed music programs in New York City, Bloom explained.  “Our concert tours are very much an educational experience as well for these kids,” he said.

This is the 13^th year which Bloom has led a Pioneer Singers trip.  Previous tours have offered students the opportunity to perform for new audiences and learn about different places.  “This particular tour is a chance for our students to perform on what is often considered to be the biggest stage of their lives,” Bloom said.

The next School Committee meeting will be held on January 17, 2012 at the High School Media Center at 7pm.