5 Things You Missed from School Committee

The School Committee began last night with a special opening sung by members of the A Cappella Choir of Shrewsbury High School conducted by Mrs. Bonnie Narcisi, Director of Music for kindergarten to grade 12. The choir sang the National Anthem and  "Can You Hear?" by Jim Papoulis.

The following presentations were made to the committee:

• Hannah Kane and Heather Logrippo presented $25,000 to the School Committee from the Celebration in the Garden fundrasier. Funding from the Celebration in the Garden as well as that raised by the Shrewsbury Road Scholars will be distributed to each school on a per pupil basis to supplement specific needs not able to be covered under the allotted budget. Many of the schools have chosen to use the money to purchase needed technology.
• Library Director Ellen Dolan and Ellen Dolan and Library Trustee Joan Barry presented the proposed expansion project to the library. They said that since 1980 there has been a 25-fold increase in the use of the library. On average the library sees at least 1,000 people per day. Among the many enhancements the expansion would provide would be more technology that will enable the library to partner more effectively with the schools. Sandra Fryc, vice chairperson of the School Committee agreed that this partnership is essential. Two informational workshops about this project will be open to the public on Oct. 5 and 6 at 7 p.m.
• Mary Beth Banios and Michelle Maguire presented a report on the summer enrichment program that included 183 class offerings, which served 1,769 students, pre-K through 12 for a four-week period this past June/July. The programs are important resources for families with children of working parents. In addition to the wonderful summer reading program other classes helped reduce the level of academic regression that typically occurs in the summer months. This is particularly important for students who are at risk or have special needs. Other classes provided academic enrichment. At the high school level the classes were typically of a remedial variety to enable students to move to a higher grade.
• Business Manager Liam Hurley presented a transportation update.Transportation was provided to 4,539 in district students on 45 buses. A new online registration process through PowerSchool was added as well as the elimination of bus passes and bus stop/route information posted to PowerSchool.
• Thomas Kennedy discussed the new employees in the district. The school district hired 66 new staff and vacancies were advertised in the newspapers but the primary source of recruiting ended up being word of mouth. Each new staff member will be supported by a mentor teacher for the entire year and in addition, is required to participate in SET, the very successful Strategies for Effective Teaching course.

The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.