Needham Superintendent Update: Facilities Master Plan, Girls Cross Country Wins It, School Closings,

Dan Gutekanst, superintendent of schools, provided the following update on Needham Schools:

• What is the Town Facilities Master Plan? Over the last year the Town has engaged the services of an architectural firm, HKT, Inc., to help provide guidance and planning around several Town and School building projects as part of the Facilities Master Planning process approved by Town Meeting. The Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) will hold an important presentation about the developing plan on Monday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the Needham Library. Several critical School and Town projects will be discussed, including Hillside, Mitchell, and Pollard, and I urge parents to become informed about the issues and challenges ahead.

• Winter, Snow, and School Closings: I am hoping the snow won’t be flying anytime soon, but if it does I want you to know that I will do my level best to make decisions about delays or school closings by approximately 5:30 in the morning. I will use email, phone, and Twitter to let parents know about weather-related cancellations and delays. Please make sure you have updated your contact information by clicking here: PowerSchool . And you can follow me on Twitter as well - @NPS_Supt

I have been asked in the past by parents and students how much snow does it take for me to cancel school. Here is the clearest answer I can give: It all depends! While student safety is always my first consideration, the forecast, road conditions, ice, and snow depth are all factors in my decision making. It is important for students to be in classes whenever it is possible, and I don’t believe a winter storm should necessarily keep us away from school. If it is projected to snow about three to six inches, I am inclined to hold school, even if it is a delay. Whatever the forecast, I will continue to do my best to make weather-related calls as safely and as soon as I practically can.

• Parents Often Ask About Giving Teacher Gifts: Over the years, Needham parents have proven to be extremely thoughtful and generous when it comes to thanking teachers and staff for their work with their children. Unfortunately, gift giving has become more complicated each year, and now specific state ethics laws prohibit all staff (including teachers, aides, athletic coaches, crossing guards, bus drivers, administrators, etc.) from receiving even small tokens of appreciation without the staff member filing an official disclosure of the gift. The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission allows the following:

- A teacher may receive one class gift of up to $150 in value once per year from the class as long as it is clear that the gift is from the entire class and not just a few students in the classroom. Any gift in excess of $150 to the teacher is prohibited by law.

- A teacher or staff member may receive a gift of up to $50 in value from an individual student/family who did not contribute to the class gift in the example above as long as the staff member files a disclosure form with the school system. Any gift, including gift cards, jewelry, tickets, clothing, beverages, etc., over $50 in value is prohibited by law.

- Staff members may receive perishable items (e.g., food, flowers) up to $50 in value as long as the staff member shares the item(s) with members of the school community. These items do not need to be disclosed by the teacher.

Parents may show their appreciation to individual teachers/staff members by making a donation to the school’s PTC or to the NEF Teacher Appreciation Cards program.

These organizations have well-established procedures for the distribution of funds to schools and individual classrooms, and such donations are not affected by State Ethics rules. If you make a donation to the PTC or NEF in a staff member’s name, that staff member does not need to file a disclosure. This year’s deadline for NEF Teacher Appreciation Cards is December 15, 2014.

• Needham Schools Spotlight: School Safety: Please check out the latest cable broadcast of Needham Schools Spotlight, a conversation with Police Chief Phil Droney, Fire Chief Paul Buckley, and Mitchell Principal Mike Schwindenabout school and student safety and security in the Needham Public Schools: Needham Schools SpotlightThe program entitled “Meet New School Leaders” will be broadcast after Thanksgiving!

• Congratulations to Superb NHS Students! Congratulations to the Division I Championship girls’ Cross Country Team for winning the state title last weekend, and congratulations to the Boys’ Soccer Team for becoming the Division I State Champions after defeating Amherst in a 4-0 shutout last night at WPI. It was a superb and fun game with an amazing and enthusiastic crowd.

And a big thank you and kudos to the outstanding cast and crew of Rent, performed over the weekend by NHS Students Acting to Make a Difference (SAMD). Over the years, SAMD has wowed audiences with wonderful musical theatre and raised ten of thousands of dollars for charitable causes, including this year’s recipient, Cradles to Crayons. Whether they are in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, our students are talented, mature, hardworking, and poised. Needham families should be rightly proud of them!

Happy Thanksgiving! Finally, let me wish you and your families a peaceful and restful Thanksgiving Holiday. I am looking forward to picking up our daughters at Logan and South Station later this week so we can spend the holiday together for the first time as a family in two years! Like you, I am very grateful for my family! I am also thankful to know and to work with a talented staff, committed parents, a supportive community, and the exceptional young people of Needham.

I am honored to be your superintendent, and I appreciate the opportunity you have given me.

Go Rockets! Beat Wellesley!