Superintendent Aaron Dean said there are more than 41 new hires in the district this year across all positions. Several of the new faculty and staff were in attendance for the meeting, with Dean noting he wanted to give anyone who wanted an opportunity to introduce themselves. 

 

"We're really excited about the start of the year and, really, the breath of fresh air that folks have brought in," he said. "I think a lot of the work we've been trying to put into place around curriculum updates, use of data, teacher personal development and support programs; it's all coming together at a great time."

 

Erica Girgenti, the district's new family community engagement coordinator, was one of the new staff in attendance. She said her early focus has been on improving the district's social media presence. 

 

"I can tell you already, the likes, the shares, the increased followings that we've had on our social media pages is already up through the roof," she said. "So that's been really good. The more that people are seeing those things, the more they will see our other events that we're going to make sure we'll be sharing,"

 

Girgenti said she is working on speaking with staff and faculty members to determine how they can help the district in multiple ways. 

 

"We have tons of seasoned teachers, teachers coming to us with 20-plus years of experience, not just teachers right out of the school system," she said. "They're coming to us with tons of different leadership skills. And those folks made a choice to come here to Hoosac to teach here, so I'm looking forward to connecting with them to find out what were some of the things that really drew them here so that we can get more folks like them." 

 

The district has also added a new teacher orientation program. Kristen Palatt, director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, said the program is aimed at new teachers to the district but is open to all faculty. 

 

"We really wanted to create a new educator support system this year that acknowledged everybody's experience, whatever that experience was, and was supportive of whatever that they needed," she said. 

 

The district's three principals were present and provided the committee with an update on the beginning of the school year. Elementary School Principal Erin Beaulac said the school's new social-emotional learning program, responsive classroom, is having an impact. 

 

"I have immediately seen the impact of this because every single staff and student is starting the day the same exact way," she said. "That has already shifted our culture to this unified positive child-centered community. That existed before, but now it's happening at the same time every day, and kids are talking about it amongst themselves. So to hear that is reassuring for me that this is the right choice for us." 

 

Palatt said the district's principals provided solid leadership for the schools. 

 

"The leadership in the buildings is doing amazing things to create systems and structures to increase teacher repertoire, and impact on student learning is exceptional," she said. 

 

Regarding COVID-19, Dean said there have been some cases in the district, but it has not so far distracted from education. He said the district, like many others, is following U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations and guidance. 

 

"I know we dealt with a lot of the years, and we really had to do a lot around public health and managing public health," he said. "But I think thankfully, with vaccination opportunities and the treatments were getting to a point in time where we can transition and handle it in a different way." 

 

Several board members remarked at the positive energy going into this school year. 

 

"I'm hearing from community members, I'm hearing it from from little kids, I'm hearing it from big kids," said Committee member Adam Emerson. "It's really good. There's some really good going on, and we should we should take a moment to celebrate that."