McCann's Harrington Selected for Superintendent's Award
Principal Justin Kratz tells the School Committee about Harrington's academic achievements.
"Because you only need to know the letter A," he said. "You can read this report card at 2 years old because literally every single grade is A."
Harrington was presented with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendent's Certificate of Academic Excellence at the McCann School Committee on Thursday night.
She has a grade-point average of 4.41 and is hoping to study software engineering at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology.
Kratz said despite starting high school first remote and then in a mask, an even more challenging situation than the "naturally difficult transitions" of shifting from middle school to high school, she thrived.
"To make it through high school under those circumstances alone is a testament to our young people," he said. "But to do it as well as you did is definitely taking it up a notch."
Several of her teachers provided comments on her achievements, describing her as "always prepared, courteous, always engaged and always has the correct answer."
"Her answers to complex questions are layered and nuanced and provide perspective and context," wrote one teacher. "She provides personifies the sort of success we hope to see in every McCann student."
Another referred to her participation in softball, saying Harrington was a dedicated student-athlete who has "been nothing but a leader." And her English teachers recalled how impressed she had been by the research, writing and analysis she had done on "To Kill a Mockingbird."
"I actually got a chance while I was looking through some stuff to read some of her writing and she's a very talented writer," said Kratz.
She was also cited by her instructors for her attention to detail, perseverance and tenacity and, in one teacher's opinion, "one of the few students who meet represents the definition of a dream student."
Superintendent James Brosnan said her congratulations were "well-earned, well-deserved."
"This young lady represents us, your family and yourself very well," he said.
Chair Gary Rivers congratulated her on behalf of the committee "on such a tremendous accomplishment over four years." He also congratulated her family on providing the support she had needed during her high school career.
In other business, the School Committee authorized Brosnan to submit a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
The school hopes to apply to MSBA's Accelerated Repair Program to replace the roof and outdated and energy inefficient single-pane windows. Brosnan said the history the office is compiling for the submission will show how well they have taken care of the building.
The SOI is due the end of January and Brosnan expected to hear if McCann would be accepted into the queue for the engineering study sometime in the spring. In answer to questions, he could not estimate the cost but that the district would be expected to some.
• The committee also approved the transfer of funds to cover about $120,000 gap in constructions costs for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning shop. Brosnan had cautioned the funds might be necessary in September when the bid was awarded to Salco Construction.
McCann received a $3,110,000 state Skills Capital Grant last year to implement the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning program. This would include the new building on the school's campus as well as equipment for the program.
Framing on the building began this week.
• Kratz gave an update on the school year so far. He anticipated having numbers on shop enrollments for the committee at the next meeting. Incoming freshman are still doing their exploratories.
• Brosnan said the three minor errors in last year's audit have been corrected and that in this year's, "everything is absolutely perfect" thanks to district Treasurer Melanie Medon.
• The meeting room was also filled with toys and other items and Kratz explained it was the Skills USA chapter's Giving Tree program. The students are collecting the items for children at Louison House and will be wrapping and delivering the gifts before Christmas.
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