The Marion School Committee on September 19 made Sippican Elementary School the last of the district’s six schools to approve its own 2024-2025 School Improvement Plan.
“This is our last stop,” Superintendent Michael Nelson said as he led the Marion committee to the approval vote. He noted that five of the six schools in the district have accepted their own improvement plan, and the Sippican School plan was now ready to follow along.
Sippican’s new principal, Lynn Dessert, said the school shares five strategic objectives with the other district schools’ plans and the district’s Vision 2028 New Strategic Plan. One important aspect of the improvement plan, she said, is a focus on cultivating student success. Another is Climate and Culture, which, she said, quoting from the plan itself, provides “an inclusive, equitable and positive climate and culture in all schools that promotes sense of belonging for all school community members.”
Nelson explained in a meeting last year that all the of the district’s local schools will have a one-year improvement plan, then go back to two-year models to be in sync with ORR’s five-year plan. The categories of Mission, Vision and Core Values are the same across the district, especially in terms of literacy and curriculum.
The committee on September 19 also approved the Sippican School’s Student Handbook for 2024-2025, with notable changes.
Sippican’s new assistant principal, Gregory Thomas, said the biggest changes beyond the listing of new staff include the bus arrival and departure times that students should note. Also, there is a new policy banning the wearing of decorative footwear or flip-flops for safety reasons, and a change to the policy banning cellular telephones. Smart watches have been added to that ban, he said, because their use is the current trend.
In other action, the committee accepted additional grant funding from the Civics Teaching and Learning grant program in the amount of $32,000 and a grant from the Tri-Town Education Foundation totaling $689.47.
Nelson reported the total amount of cafeteria meals served in 2023-2024 were 12,000 breakfasts and 39,000 lunches.
The committee reappointed April Nye as chairperson and Nichole Daniel as vice chair.
Nelson reported a Joint School Committee meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, September 26, in the ORR Junior High media room at 133 Marion Road, Mattapoisett. But that date, he said, is subject to change based on people’s availability.
The Marion School Committee will next meet on Thursday, October 24, at 6:00 pm at Sippican School, 16 Spring Street.
Marion School Committee
By Michael J. DeCicco