Hathaway Elementary School Official Prepares for September in July

The old Alice Cooper song says, “School's out for summer. School's out forever.”

That may be true for some, but the work continues at for Principal Robert Ettinger. “It’s really a busy time of year,” he said, as he drank an ice coffee to keep himself going.

Although the 2010-2011 school year has just ended, September’s start seems to be right around the corner for Ettinger.

“Two things we are looking at is the reading of Delayed Start Days and the dress code for the updated handbook by the School Committee tonight (June 28),” he said.

As it was, the School Committee voted 6-0 on June 28 to delay a decision on the after outgoing Superintendent Susan Lusi’s urging.

Lusi recommended to the committee that the newly-appointed Superintendent Dr. Lynn Krizic have the opportunity to review it before any decisions are made.

Also delayed at the School Committee meeting Tuesday was a decision to move forward with the new dress code language. It will be taken up again July 22.

If and when Delayed Start Days are implemented, Ettinger has a plan.

“We will use the Unified Arts Schedule as a core to build classes around. Then, we will refine the list of students so we can send out postcards in August so they know what teachers they have,” he said.

Supplies for the next school year and room maintenance request are also on his agenda for the summer.

But Ettinger also said there will be new additions in the classrooms.

“There will be new porcelain magnetic whiteboard in all the classrooms that need them. We are working with the School Department Maintenance to measure every room,” he said.

“Chalk dust from blackboards is an enemy of technology such as our laptops, projectors and the ELMOs,” he said. “Research also tells us that different colors for words and concepts help with focus.

“It’s costing $5,000 for 20 new whiteboards. The Hathaway Parent Association is paying half and the district is coming up with the rest. We couldn’t do it with out the HPA. Forty percent of my total operating budget comes from them."

Of concern for the Hathaway principal this summer is the declining kindergarten enrollment.

There had been five sections or classrooms with about 100 kindergarten students in the 2010-2011 school year.

But, according to Ettinger, the numbers seem to be around the 55-60 student mark.

“The school district’s central administration called Newport and Middletown to see if that is trending for them also and it seems to be,” he said. “With the economy, more people may be going to work and electing for private, all-day kindergarten."

At present, Ettinger said, a strategic plan does exists for all day kindergarten in the Portsmouth School District but financials may dictate the implementation for the year after next.

He also pointed out that another task he is charged with this summer is training for the new evaluation system that has been put in place and the addition of new staff.

“We received and reviewed 63 applicants for the position of ‘student and school support co-coordinator.’ It took us all day to get a list just for interviews. It’s a full-time position that fills in for me when I am out of the building as I am very often. Both Melville and Hathaway will fill one position each,” he said.

On a personal note, Ettinger said he plans to take time to organize his office and work on his organizational skills such as his files on his computer.

He also does plan a vacation.

“In my whole career, I’ve never taken back to back vacations before. But, I plan on going to Las Vegas with some old college friends and a trip to Maine with my wife. It will give me an opportunity to recharge my batteries and be ready for the school year to come,” said Ettinger.