Residents of Mattapoisett Village soon will measure the day again through the chimes of the Center School Clock. At the Mattapoisett School Committee meeting on Monday, June 11, Ray Andrews reported that the installation of the renovated Seth Thomas 1898 Clock is slated for June 28 – and he proposed to ring the bells for the first time at a public debut event on the following Saturday on June 30.
The efforts to restore the clock are long running. It took more than one year for Andrews to secure the necessary funds – including $27,482 in private fundraising. The town authorized $51,500 for the clock’s restoration at last month’s annual town meeting.
“It’s the first time in 114 years that we’ll see the clock in operation,” said Andrews of the clock mechanisms, which will be viewable from the music room. The clock’s bells will ring from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and go silent between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. Andrews said that the Mattapoisett Congressional Church agreed to silence their carillon bells at all times except noon and 6:00 pm.
The $10,000 in funds obtained from the Community Preservation Committee will be set aside exclusively for care and maintenance of the dial face and gears, he said. The revolving fund, managed through Town Administrator Michael Gagne’s office, would ensure the clock’s upkeep, and assist with the anticipated cost to repaint the clock.
The account requires authorization at the Special Town Meeting in the fall. Andrews envisions representatives from the Select Board, Historical Commission, and School Committee overseeing access to the account.
“It’s in the school, but it’s a town responsibility to maintain it… One of most important things is take the responsibility away from school committee,” Andrews said of the clock.
As the Center School Clock will ring in the summer, the committee voted in Jim Higgins to lead the committee next year as Chairman. He is replacing Gracinda Knox, who has served for four years as Chair. The committee also welcomed newcomer Jim Muse to the table.
Also that evening, Old Hammondtown Student Adjustment Counselor Laura Courage shared with the committee how guidance staff enhances social and emotional learning in Mattapoisett schools. The presentation aimed to inform the committee and community at large about counseling services available to all students.
“Our goal is to help students access education without social and emotional barriers,” Courage said, citing the need to treat anxiety, social skills deficits, and attention deficit disorder. “This impacts learning of all the kids in the classroom.”
She said 5 to 10 percent of children are diagnosed with anxiety disorders, which can result in children exhibiting avoidance behavior towards school. Guidance staff take a proactive approach to identify and refer children with mental health needs to the right place so counselors “get to them before they have 30 absences,” she said
Courage reported that the guidance office is taking more steps to collect data on regular day students, who use the services equally as much as Special Education students. Counseling data on special education students already is routinely collected.
“This is about the getting the word out that assistance is available. Maybe the student is not in trouble, but there is a lot of stress in their family,” said Teresa Hamm, Director of Student Services.
In other business discussed, Superintendent Doug White is in the process of hiring for two positions in the central district administrative office. He said the search continues to replace Business Administrator Katie Isernio, and he will begin the process to locate a new Technology Director next week.
In other news:
- the committee welcomed Facilities Director Eugene Jones
- the committee approved the donations of two U.S. flags
- the committee acknowledged the retirements of teacher Ms. Sylvester and custodian Mr. Green as well as Kristin Querim, who successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on a student
By Laura Fedak Pedulli