DESE Office of School Monitoring to Visit MGRSD

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — During the week of May 13, 2024, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Mount Greylock Regional School District. 
 
The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.
 
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child's special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.
 
Parents and other individuals may call Michelle Hennessey-Kowalchek, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (413) 314-6709 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
 
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.
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Williamstown Picks Curran, Sussman as Library Trustees

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Some 822 voters, or about 18 percent of registered voters, went to the polls on Tuesday to determine the four-way race for two seats on the library board of trustees. 
 
Janet Curran and Michael Sussman, separated by three votes, came in first and second, at 219 and 216. They will join the seven-member committee overseeing the Milne Library. 
 
Candidates Kathleen Schultze polled 205 votes and Martin Mitsoff 97. There were two write-ins and 83 blanks. 
 
Curran was the managing director of Images Cinema until recently and Sussman has served on the town's Finance Committee and Milne's Friends of the Library. 
 
Incumbents Stephanie Boyd and Shana Dixon were each re-elected to three-year terms on the Select Board and Nate Budington for one year to complete the unexpired term of Jeffrey Johnson, who stepped down last fall. 
 
This is Dixon's first full term, having been elected to complete Andrew Hogeland's term last spring; this will be Boyd's second term. 
 
Stephen Dew, current treasurer of the Housing Authority, was re-elected as was Roger Lawrence to the Planning Board. 
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