Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Dr. Shari Fedorowicz had to move quickly to prepare a presentation to the June 12 public meeting of the ORR School Committee.
The resultant FY24 vote enacted approval of a $105,000 grant for investment in the Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum. The grant was accepted by the committee in February, but ORR had to choose between English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.
“We determined the highest need to be math,” said Fedorowicz, whose focus is on algebra materials. A collaborative effort involving demonstration, review and feedback led to the approval of the Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum for Grades 7 and 8 Algebra.
The School Committee approved the Student Handbook for the 2024-25 school year. Before the vote, respective ORRHS and ORRJH Assistant Principals Vanessa Harvey and Kelly Chouinard summarized changes for the handbook, which will henceforth discipline plagiarism related to artificial intelligence.
Another wrinkle is the policy affecting Grade 8 students who earn spots on high school sports teams. Because fundraising is conducted at the high school level, eighth graders are by statewide policy not allowed to play varsity sports, except in the case where there is no junior-varsity team (ORRHS Principal Mike Devoll listed softball as an example). In that case, a Grade 8 student who makes the squad becomes eligible to play varsity as the lowest available level, per the MIAA, Devoll confirmed.
Committee member Frances-Feliz Kearns brought to the committee’s attention a potential problem in a Student Handbook section addressing bullying that as written could indicate that the school committee (as well as the student) would receive counseling. Chouinard said she would research the matter and report back to the committee.
In her Chairperson’s Report, Michelle Smith stressed everyone’s part in the team effort it takes to have a successful school year. In recalling a letter she wrote as a high school student that was published in her local newspaper, Smith talked about what she learned about different funding sources and told the committee it’s important to continue working toward grant funding and that all students have a voice.
The ORR School Committee voted to approve the request from the Old Rochester Youth Football to use the main field on four Sundays across September and October with five games on each day.
“We love having Bulldogs on campus of all ages, they are great and respectful neighbors,” said Devoll, who characterized ORYF leadership as “super responsive” to cancelations for weather reasons, which is the district’s main concern. He even suggested a five-year deal so the league wouldn’t have to apply on an annual basis. Member April Nye echoed Devoll’s sentiments in recommending ongoing approval.
Member Jim Muse sought and received clarification that weather-related cancellation decisions rest with ORR Administration and not the youth football league.
The vote approved ORYF to use the main field on four Sundays for the 2024-25 academic year.
Late in the meeting during subcommittee reports, Nelson updated the committee on a $750,000 approval received from the state Department of Education for ORR’s athletic fields. Nelson recognized Representative Bill Straus’ advocacy in securing the funds.
The ORR School Committee heard an update on the School Improvement Plans from Devoll and ORRJH Principal Silas Coellner. As principals, they also delivered end-of-year thoughts on the growth and achievement of their students.
The School Committee approved the following donations: $500 from the Emma Whittaker Fund for the ORR swim team, one 2×7-foot Best Communities for Music Education banner from Denise Conton to the ORRJH Music Department, 12 250-milliliter Erlenmeyer flasks, seven 250-milliliter beakers and eight, 150-milliliter beakers from Mattapoisett resident and registered medical technologist Stephen Likos, a cornet and a Flugelhorn from the Symphony Music Shop to the ORRJH Music Department, 15 copies of “The Odyssey” and 15 copies of “Romeo and Juliet” from parents Michelle and Michael Kelly for the high school, and OpenSciEd kits (6.2 Thermal Energy for Grade 7, 7.3 Metabolic Reactions for Grade 8, and general classroom supplies for Grades 7 and 8 from OpenSciEd).
The committee approved the following grants: Vacation Acceleration Academies Grant of $66,000, from the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund $2,000 to Andrew Apperson, ORRHS (Intra-school) for ORRHS Disc Golf Course, $3,000 to Richard Laprise, ORRJH (Intra-School and Cross Curriculum) for Sounds of the Tri-Town (Guest Artist Collaboration for Original Composition and Performances) and $897.65 to Kelly Ochoa, ORRHS for World Language Curriculum Enhancement.
The committee approved the 2024-25 School Committee meeting schedule based on Thursdays: September 5, October 10, 2024, (Tuesday) November 5, December 12, February 27, 2025, March 27, 2025 and May 22, 2025.
The committee voted to approve the SMEC lease for the 2024-25 School Year but will add two spaces to accommodate secondary-level education.
There was no Food Service report, but Nelson publicly recognized Jill Henesey for her work during the school year.
Books were donated to the school libraries honoring retiring faculty, including Junior High Severe Disabilities teacher Mary Caine, paraprofessional Shirley O’Connor and Junior High physical education teacher Karen Horan.
Early in the meeting, Devoll announced that Student Representative Jamison Gunschel (Class of 2024) and rising senior Emerson Gonet were sworn into Governor Maura Healey’s Advisory Committee.
“No surprise to me, we have the outgoing senior class president and the rising senior class president. Both are doing great things at the school and now at the state level,” said Devoll, who said their accomplishment is a first for ORR students.
Kelly Quinlan was also recognized for her rare feat of a 200-goal, lacrosse career at the high school. Devoll noted Quinlan’s comeback from a serious knee injury. “It didn’t stop her from being a great teammate, leader, player.”
ORR recognized another district first in that lacrosse goaltender Tessa Winslow became the first ORR student to serve on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (MIAA) Advisory Committee.
“She represented not only Old Rochester but our part of the state at the MIAA on a monthly basis,” said Devoll. Winslow has 600 career saves heading into her senior year.
Caroline Brogioli was also recognized as the multisport athlete brings 100 goals into her senior year.
Gunschel said all the events related to the senior class were successful, and he recommended that graduation exercises maintain the briefer format adopted for 2024. Smith thanked Gunschel for his work on the committee.
Smith recognized outgoing member Jason Chisholm of Rochester for his three-year term serving on the committee.
The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, at 6:30 pm in the ORRJH Music room and accessible via remote.
ORR School Committee
By Mick Colageo