There is a combined total of 99 School Choice students attending the Old Rochester Regional High School and Junior High, and that’s the way it will stay after the ORR School Committee voted at its March 23 public meeting to retain the current parameters, policies and practices.
The committee held a Public Hearing on the matter, and with 25 School Choice students scheduled to graduate this year and 37 applications in hand, the vote of approval results in a plan to allow no more than 25 students to fill the vacated spots in the 2022-23 academic year. School Choice students populate Grades 7-12, and the district prioritizes their inclusion in Grades 7, 8 and 9.
“We are very blessed to have some great students who came to our community and added to the quality just by their presence … the reality is they serve the overall benefit of tri-town students … create more offerings and broader educational opportunity for everybody involved. It has worked for the last several years,” said committee member Jim Muse, who was quickly supported in his comments by committee members Margaret McSweeny and Frances Kearns.
McSweeny recognized the decline in tri-town student enrollment and recommended maintaining the School Choice program as is “to keep numbers up and keep education broad.” She read the motion prepared by ORR Administration, including a Grade 7 maximum of 18 School Choice students. Currently populated by 99 students, the School Choice program is capped at 125.
Public Comment was invited during the public hearing, but none was received. The public hearing was closed and later in the meeting the committee voted unanimously in favor.
In her Chairperson’s Report, Heather Burke revisited the matter of School Choice with a focus on state support or the relative lack thereof. Burke said that, while ORR is enriched by the students it receives via School Choice, the point of the program was not just to use it as a carrot but also to motivate the districts losing students to improve. The funding should go with School Choice students, said Burke, otherwise the program’s goals cannot be fully met.
Burke also said that, while she is happy the high school track will finally be repaired, it still falls short of Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) standards and therefore does not qualify ORR to host any large track meet. The context of the statement was that the junior and senior high school buildings need updates, and that need extends far beyond athletics to science and technology.
“If we don’t tackle these topics, it’s only going to become more expensive,” said Burke, urging the committee members to attend and vote at their respective town meetings this spring.
It was with Principal Mike Devoll’s recommendation that the School Committee held off on a vote regarding the request of the Old Rochester Youth Football Association to use ORR’s multi-purpose field this year. Devoll advised the committee to wait until after the high school lacrosse season to evaluation the field’s condition.
“I appreciate the early notice from youth football; I feel like last year we were all hurried,” said Devoll. “Graduation’s on my mind in June, I want to see what that field looks like in June.”
Having secured two dates on the field in 2021, Christine Medeiros appeared on behalf of the youth football organization seeking approval to hold three or four home dates. Youth football plays five age-group games on each game day.
The committee will meet after graduation, at which time a vote will be taken, but member Jason Chisholm didn’t want to let it go at that.
A former player at Boston University in the 1990s before that program was cut from the school’s roster of fall sports, Chisholm now coaches his sons in another football program. The Rochester resident told the committee that the hardship ORRYF parents incur in extra travel time lacking a home field has factored in his hesitation to transfer into the local program.
“I would love for us to figure out a way to support this organization,” said Chisholm. “I can’t say that I would change things now … but it pains me to see that the kids in the tri-towns can’t play on the field where they will probably go (to high school). I respectfully understand the process and effort to the decision, but I would love – even if it wasn’t the multi-purpose field. … I’m biased, but I’ll own that.”
Chisholm made sure the committee understands that ORRYF has not been able to find a home on any other field in the tri-towns. They therefore play most of their games either in Rhode Island or Dighton-Rehoboth and Seekonk. Participation is slightly down as a result.
Echoing Chisholm’s sentiments, committee member Joe Pires asked about the current field conditions at ORR. Devoll said the field is in “good shape” and that it was “managed very carefully in the fall.” Referencing conversation with Facilities Director Gene Jones earlier on the day of the meeting, Devoll said more extensive maintenance has improved the field’s resiliency.
Kearns thanked Medeiros for ORRYF’s diligence in cleaning up after football days and asked ORR Administration if any grants or funding can be pursued for the sake of the field. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said that, as of now, there are no such opportunities. The committee tabled the matter until June, when spring sports will have ended. The lacrosse season is coming up this spring.
The ORR Youth Lacrosse Association was also scheduled to make a request, but that was withdrawn.
ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said that the matter of naming the press box will be revived and he will bring an update to the committee at a future meeting.
After hearing from Junior High Principal Silas Coellner’s discussion on how technology has changed music, the committee voted to approve his proposal to shift the focus from a “Music and Technology” course to “Music for Life” with an emphasis on social-emotional learning.
The committee also voted to approve ORR’s School Health Unit Application submitted by school nurses Nicole Sadeck and Linda Deveau and endorsed and signed by Nelson and Dr. Jason Reynolds, the school physician.
In the Administration Report, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jannell Pearson-Campbell said she is working on creating a professional-development plan for 2022-23. The last P.D. day of the current school year addressed cultural proficiency.
Director of Student Services Craig Davidson talked about events meant to smooth the transition from elementary schools to the junior high. On Tuesday, April 12, at 6:00 pm, parents will have the opportunity to gain advice on how to speak to their children about racial incidents at school. Registration forms were emailed to families on March 23.
In his Principals Report, Silas Coellner reported that 100 parents attended the March 22 transition event, which was to be repeated this week with another parent tour scheduled for April 17. “It makes a big difference when they’ve had prior exposure,” he said.
Earlier in the meeting, Devoll recognized winter season successes, starting with sports including South Coast Conference championships in boys and girls basketball, boys and girls indoor track, and boys swimming. “We don’t have a winter pep rally, but maybe we should,” he said. Colby Gross made nationals in the 300-meter run, and Jen Williams finished seventh in New England in the 55 hurdles. In music, Corinne Hibbert qualified for the Southeast District Festival in flute.
ORR’s DECA chapter produced state champions including Eddie Gonet, Colin Carroll and Brendan Burke, who will all compete in April in Atlanta. Gonet and fellow senior McKenzie Wilson exceled in Speech & Debate.
Among committee reports, Muse said the Mattapoisett School Committee’s negotiations with teachers were “going well,” that Kevin Tavares will be promoted at Old Hammondtown School and that the town is looking for a principal for Center School.
After thanking the Central Office for its hard work, attention to detail and including the school committee in its communications, McSweeny used the floor in the Open Comment segment of the meeting to say she would like to hear from junior and senior high schools about the implementation of discipline. She also asked why the ORR District does not employ a Curriculum coordinator, calling it “a huge job.”
Gonet reported on ORR’s Student Council, including a spring dance with the freshman and sophomore classes, a junior class semi-formal and the senior prom at the Belmar in Newport, Rhode Island. Spirit Week, he said, will be held before the April vacation with an outdoor pep rally scheduled. Senior Week will be held the week before graduation with a series of events including a parade, a walk-through the elementary schools, an awards night and a breakfast. Gonet said that Senior Superlative Night raised $1,400 for the class to offset prom-related costs. Gonet regretfully reported that nothing came from the regional Student Advisory Council meeting.
Alison Noyce of Tri Town Against Racism recognized ORR students Grace Long and Angus McLellan after their entries placed in the TTAR Art Contest during Black History Month, calling the work, “very moving pieces that we are extremely proud of.”
The ORR Senior Class Fundraiser request was withdrawn.
The committee entered Executive Session at 6:48 pm to discuss collective bargaining strategy and to comply with the provisions of any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements and exited at 7:15 pm.
Early in the meeting, Nelson held a moment of silence for ORR student Emma Whittaker, who passed away on February 16.
The next meeting of the ORR School Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 27, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee will be held on Thursday, April 28, both at 6:30 pm.
ORR School Committee
By Mick Colageo