Hoosac Valley School Principals Share School Improvement Plan
CHESHIRE, Mass — The principals from each of the Hoosac Valley regional schools shared their school improvement plan with the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee on Monday.
Elementary School Principal Erin Beaulac, Middle School Principal Christopher Sposato and High School Principal Colleen Byrd outlined the school's strategic objectives. These objectives center around curriculum, proficiency and communication.
Beaulac said each of the schools in the district must align their goals and work together to be as successful as possible.
"I think we're really in a unique situation where we're a small community, and the fact that we are able to collaborate, the three of us and district admin, to create a unified front for our students and our families," she said. "I think we have the ability to move in the right direction."
Sposato said he also is excited about the collaboration between each of the three schools.
"You're going to see a lot of commonality in our stuff," he said. "And I think that's great because it shows that alignment."
Byrd said she noticed a lot of enthusiasm this year, especially from parents of students. She said there is a lot of interaction from families via email and social media.
"What I noticed this year, and I don't know how to really describe it, but it seems like there's this real want and need, probably because of COVID for more of a connection and a face-to-face," she said.
In addition to the presentation by the principals, Superintendent Aaron Dean also shared his goals as part of the school improvement plan.
"It's the principal's job to develop staff. It's my job to develop the principals and the leadership team," he said. "A job that I take seriously and work hard."
Dean said COVID-19 caused a lot of disruption to the district, something he plans to fix. He said he hopes to have data by June 2022 that indicates student growth.
"Our students didn't make the typical growth and haven't had a normal school year in two years," he said. "So there's a lot that we have to do in order to promote that growth and help."
The committee unanimously approved Dean's goals, with plans to vote on the improvement plan next meeting.
In other business, Dean reported on COVID-19 updates for the district, noting that they have recorded approximately 38 cases so far this year. He said work is ongoing to determine accurate numbers for student vaccination status, using surveys and state data.
"It's going to be a multi-step cycle for us to get there," Dean said. He explained that out of 130 survey submissions so far, 51 percent of parents have vaccinated their children, with 32 percent having plans to do so.
"Time will tell if we get to that 80 percent [vaccination threshold]," he said.
The state is currently requiring indoor masking for all students and staff through January unless a school can show at least an 80 percent vaccination rate.
Dean said the district plans on holding a vaccine clinic for students to get vaccinated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week approved emergency authorization to the Pfizer vaccine for use in children ages 5 through 11.
The board unanimously approved the beginning of year budget transfer. Erika Snyder, the business administrator for the district, explained that this budget transfer is standard procedure.
"This is something that we do every year, usually in the beginning and the end, and then maybe midway through if necessary," she said.
Hoosac Valley High School teacher Lindsay McGinnis gave the committee an update on the school's Farm-to-School Initiative.
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