Newsweek Excellence Ranking Dominates Superintendent’s Report at Board of Ed Meeting

At the last Springfield Board of Education meeting of this school year, Superintendent Michael A. Davino announce Jonathan Dayton's ranking in Newsweek Magazine as one of the nation's top high schools.  Davino said that this recognition is awarded to "those high schools that challenge their students the most."  Dayton made the list for the first time this year, ranking #934 out of a list of 1632 high schools nationwide.  Sixty three of the list were schools in New Jersey, with Dayton ranking 27^th in the state and 4^th in Union County. 

Board President Irwin Sablosky thanked Superintendent Davino, saying that the ranking is "complete recognition" of Davino's hard work in challenging the students of Jonathan Dayton to reach new academic heights. "It makes me proud… to be a member of a community that has one of the top high schools in our nation," added Sablosky. 

Davino said "the class of 2010 is our second two-million dollar class," meaning their collective college scholarships are in excess of said amount.  He ended his Superintendent's report by extending "congratulations to our kids" and stating that they have proven themselves to have advanced "academic values."

Board member Jacki Shanes announced that an abundance of presidential awards were given out to graduating eighth graders at Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School.  Mr. Sablosky called the rising freshmen an "impressive class."  Ms. Shanes mentioned that in previous years, the awards were presented with the students' fellow eighth graders in the audience, but that this year, the younger classes at Gaudineer were there to see the recognition.  Ms. Shanes called this experience an inspiration to the younger students, saying it would give them something to aspire to. 

Ms. Shanes also spoke of the success of the student orientation for Dayton Collegiate Academy, Springfield's newly implemented program for advanced students.  The program will combine advanced placement (AP) subjects into bifurcated courses and culminate with a senior year thesis project.  At the orientation, Chef William Doring, the instructor for the culinary arts program at Jonathan Dayton, showcased both his creations and students as he had them help prepare and serve hors d'œuvres and desserts, to the delight of parents and teachers present. 

Assistant Superintendent Hillary Corburn received a booming round of applause from the board as they bid her a fond farewell.  She will be moving on to the principalship at Thelma L. Sandmeier Elementary School effective next school year. 

The next BOE meeting will take place on July 19.