North Adams School Committee Welcomes Staff, OKs Contracts
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The music has ended and the team, at least for the interim, is in place at Drury High School.
Timothy Callahan, a school district veteran who has been assistant principal at Drury, will take the lead as interim principal. His temporary promotion created another vacancy, which is now being filled by Molly Meczywor, a teacher and former athletic director.
Callahan replaces Amy Meehan, who was named earlier this summer as principal of Colegrove Park Elementary School after Shelly Fachini moved to become special education coordinator for early childhood.
Superintendent Barbara Malkas said last month that the search for a permanent principal would occur later in the year and that a committee comprised of administrators, faculty, students and parents would be formed for the interview process.
The changes were recognized at the School Committee's return after its short summer break. Also welcomed were the district's new Athletic Director David Racette, who has already started a JV soccer program, and this year's student member of the committee, Drury senior Makenzie Wright.
Malkas said there is still some last-minute hires being made, adding it was unusual for such "horse trading" to be going on this close to the school year.
School started on Friday across the district, and the feedback was that it went well.
Greylock Principal Denise Cote described it as "one of the smoothest openings ever. There were very few tears, and those mostly kindergarten parents, not kindergartners."
Cote said she's looking at doing something different for parent orientation this year. "We're considering an open house, being more a family than parent event. ... Maybe a barbecue."
The environment at Brayton was much calmer than it was a few years ago, said Brayton Principal John Franzoni. He referenced the school's breakfast in the classroom program as a factor in that successful opening: "The whole atmosphere of the school and culture of the school is very positive."
This year will focus on more outreach to parents by building on what had been done last year, such as the showcase for pupils' work. The instructional leadership team has also been meeting for and he anticipated some "positive news later in the month."
Meehan said she had spoken to up to 30 faculty members and created a new master schedule as she settled into her new role. She's hoping to create a slightly different parent night coming up by addressing attendees first as the new principal and maybe setting up a scavenger hunt as a way for parents and children to discover the school.
At Drury, Callahan said "our student ambassadors really ran the show" on the first day for eighth-graders on Friday. They set up interactive games and rather than a presentation in the auditorium, small panel discussions were held for students to circle through as a way to meet with guidance and faculty. "It was a nice, calm introduction to the school."
A similar effort was made for transfer students who tend to come into the upper grades and often have difficulty finishing; an orientation is also being held for parents new to the building. The popular Destination Drury event, usually held in the spring, is being combined in October with the traditional parents' night, which has seen a decline in attendance.
Malkas reported that a district convocation was held last week at Drury High School to address strategic goals and compliance issues. The keynote speaker was Jeffrey Thomas of Lever and Cloud 85, who spoke on the new economy and the skill sets needed to succeed in it.
The superintendent also gave a brief review of the annual district report for the past school year, under her predecessor James Montepare. It found that 77 percent of the class of 2016 was going on to higher education, and more than half of those would be attending four-year colleges.
"It's a matter of encouraging more students to stay with us so they can be ready," said Malkas, pointing the graduation rate.
Vice Chairwoman Heather Boulger said the two numbers that stood out to her are the graduation rate that jumped to 90 percent and that 85 percent of the student body had participated in community service.
The committee approved three contracts after meeting briefly in executive session. Business Manager Nancy Ziter received a 1.25 percent increase for one year effective July 1, 2016. Her current pay is $88,600; the increase is about $1,100.
The North Adams Paraprofessionals will receive a 1.25 percent increase in years two and three of a three-year contract effective July 1, 2016. The first year will reflect the adjustment to minimum wage.
The building and grounds employees also will get a 1.25 percent increase for a one-year contract effective July 1, 2016.
Mayor Richard Alcombright said the increases had been factored into the fiscal 2017 budget.
In other business:
• The committee adopted a new fee schedule for use of not only the high school but the elementary schools. But it was amended after some discussion for a solution that the fee schedule committee had wrestled with over liability.
"We struggled with protecting our buildings and opening it up to the public," said Vice Chairwoman Heather Boulger.
Most entities seeking to use the facilities often have certificates of insurance, but some non-profits do not. The focus had been to make the buildings more open to the public, noted Malkas, but "if we require liability insurance, it's not as open to the community."
Committee member Mark Moulton suggested fees be waived for non-profits, which others said called into question the concept of having a fee to begin with.
It was decided to adopt the new policy, which includes and regulations, and look to add a "hold harmless" agreement that would void the city's liability and to amend later a schedule for long-term users.
• The committee also received an update on the concussion policy from Racette. New students playing soccer or football must take a concussion impact test to create a baseline; current players may take one every other year. An emergency medical technician will attend each game and should any players be removed because of a head injury, the coach must submit a form to the school and the student cannot return to play without a doctor's note.
It also provides options for academic accommodations for injured students (such as breaking up larger projects into smaller sections) and similar policy for non-sport students injured on school grounds, especially those in band.
• School Committee John Hockridge, who sits on the Berkshire County Education Task Force, said the group had given a presentation to Gov. Charlie Baker last month on what it was trying to achieve.
"He indicated support for our efforts," Hockridge said. "He realized Berkshire County is in a unique situation with declining enrollment."
The task force is looking at consolidation and other efforts as a response to the county's precipitous population decline. Baker had vetoed funding for consulting and research work that was overturned by the Legislature. Hockridge anticipated a presentation of efforts to date later this fall and said a third party consultant would be hired to provide recommendations to the 19 school districts in the next phase.
Tags: interim appointment, NAPS, union contract,
