New ACRSD Superintendent Gets Feedback From Adams Selectmen
ADAMS, Mass. – The regional school district's new leader is going above and beyond in keeping communication lines open with town officials
Robert Putnam, interim superintendent for the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District, was back in front of the board on Wednesday for the second time since being appointed July 1.
He has been interviewing residents, administrators and school staff to get a better understanding of the communities and school district. He's also met with the Cheshire Selectmen.
On Wednesday, he told the board at its workshop meeting that he wants to set a clear path for district and stabilize it.
"My goal is to set the district up so me or someone else knows the challenges facing the district and start plotting the course that either I will continue to work on or someone else," Putnam said. "Because regardless of who is in here the issues we face need to be dealt with is year."
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco agreed and said going forward, the district and town have to change their tune when it comes to political arguments involving issues with charter school funding and transportation reimbursement. He said the issue is much grimmer.
"If the charter school and McCann [Technical School] were gone tomorrow and we received 100 percent for regional transportation our situation really wouldn't change," Mazzucco said. "We would have a couple years of stability but it really would not make much of a difference."
He said the only way to really make changes is to make the state understand that education is not equal in Adams.
"In Adams today, and Cheshire to an extent, a kid will not get the same quality education that they would get in a wealthier community in the eastern part of the state and fundamentally education is supposed to be right to every kid in the commonwealth," Mazzucco said. "It is a social justice issue and if we don't push that way with Boston we are never going to get any air time ... we have to start screaming louder and at more and more people in the state to get them to understand it is unjust."
Before the Selectmen went through a set of prepared questions Putnam had provided them, Selectman Jeffrey Snoonian asked what Putnam's immediate goals were for the upcoming school year, specifically in regards to the state leveling of the district.
Putnam said currently the district is a Level 3 based on student proficiency but he does not anticipate it dropping to a 4, even if the recent standardized test scores come in lower. Because the district switched from Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System to the pilot Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test, the state allows them to be "held harmless" for a year.
He said there are many great programs already implemented in the district that are showing promise with increased scoring. He said he plans to strengthen these programs and keep students progressing throughout their time in the district.
Snoonian said he felt that despite the district's issues, many students are successful and are accepted into great schools and institutions. This says a lot about the teachers who have to split their attention between struggling students and those thriving, he said.
Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington agreed and said the staff is a huge strength in the district.
"I think we have a highly motivated group of educators, and they are very well supported by the administration and the communities," he said. "They are very dedicated and they work very hard and given maybe some new direction you may see even greater things."
Putnam said he wants to strengthen the quality of instruction with improved teacher evaluation and more feedback.
Selectman Joseph Nowak said teachers are able to communicate well with their students, but also noted that the community as a whole comes together to support those going through tough times at the school. Selectman Richard Blanchard said that despite fiscal challenges, the town, and elected officials are committed to providing the best education possible.
As for challenges facing the district, Snoonian was concerned about increasing health insurance costs that have both the town and district in dire financial straits.
Over the past two years, the town has seen health care costs rise nearly 28 percent.
Mazzucco said Berkshire Health Group as a whole may try to join the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association. The county would have a better chance of being accepted by the group than individual towns, he said.
Nowak said he felt the high level of poverty in Adams and the high number of transient students in the district was also a challenge
"The children come to school and they are left behind already because they don't have the early abilities that allow them to move along with the rest of the group," Nowak said. "A lot of students come to our district midstream, and it is very difficult for our teachers. They can't retrace their steps."
Blanchard agreed that the district not only has to teach kids but in some cases, act as the parent.
Harrington felt the district needs to bring back more hands-on activities and programs that will help educationally identify the school. He said school's like McCann Tech and Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School have much clearer educational identities.
"We need to find a way to attract and keep students and get them more involved in their own education," he said. "We are losing students and we are not attracting kids from other schools."
He said this seems to be an issue for all public high schools and thought it would be worth exploring ways to regionalize with surrounding public institutions to attract students.
Snoonian and Blanchard felt the district was improving and going in the right direction, if perhaps slowly. Nowak, too, said it was moving but not in any specific direction because of a changing society and economic restraints facing the town.
Harrington said this is a challenge for many public high schools.
"Everyone is in a boat and that boat is going somewhere, and I am not sure where our boat is going up here," he said. "Sometimes I feel like our boat up here is rudderless or there is no one at the rudder. There is no clear direction."
As for what the district must maintain, Snoonian and Nowak felt the schools must hold on to extracurricular activities.
"School other than being a place where students learn, also has to be an institution where children can go to have fun," Nowak said. "I think that comes in with arts and sports."
The Selectmen also wanted the town to ensure maintenance of the school buildings, such as fixing C.T. Plunkett's roof so it doesn't become a costly project like the vacant Memorial School.
"Plunkett is the town's building and ... I think it becomes a much bigger expense for the town if we don't take care of it," Harrington said. "We can't tell the school what books to buy or what money to cut from the teachers' salary ... but we ought to look at a way to make the town responsible for maintenance in conjunction with the school."
Both Snoonian and Nowak asked if there was a way to reduce special education costs, especially when a child needs to be sent to a special school or institution at the district's expense.
Putnam said there is not much the school can do about this and grants can be quickly used up by a few students. He said the district can only improve programming in attempt to keep students with special needs in the community.
Putnam thanked the Selectmen for the input and said he looked forward to speaking with them again.
Tags: ACRSD, superintendent,
