Rochester School Committee Chairperson Sharon Hartley urged fellow members to attend the upcoming October 18 Special Town Meeting, at which time Rochester voters will be asked to consider long-coming revisions to the ORR District agreement as recommended by the Board of Selectmen.
All three of the Tri-Towns will vote on the matter in special town meetings this fall. Marion’s meeting is the night after Rochester’s. “We’ve been talking about that a long time and it’s very important to us,” said Hartley while addressing the September 2 meeting of the Rochester School Committee, its first of the 2021-22 academic year.
Rochester’s Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 18, in 7:00 pm in the Rochester Memorial School cafetorium. Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said the last revisions were made to the ORR District agreement in 1986.
In addressing the committee, RMS Principal Derek Medeiros said the facilities management and staff made the school beautiful and ready for its teachers, not only in terms of cleanliness but technologically as well.
RMS opened with 3 feet of spacing in the classrooms and 6 feet of spacing in the cafeteria. “This nice thing about this school year, as I mentioned several times in Medeiros’ Minute (segments on the school’s website) … we feel like all our teachers have tools in their toolbox to function,” said Medeiros. “We couldn’t have asked for a smoother first two days of school.”
Having discussed the earlier-in-the-day decision to postpone school in the ORR district due to the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ida, Nelson recognized a level of confidence among faculty that he said was in part the product of the hard work done last year in challenging circumstances.
Hartley thanked the ORR district staff for its work in helping schools achieve consistency.
In referencing an in-person open house at RMS, Medeiros thanked the community and faculty/staff for implementing the policies that were put in place for safety. “A lot of positive feedback was received,” he said. “It was a very successful event.”
Medeiros said bus capacities are “pretty evenly distributed” without any drastic aberrations.
The committee received a first draft of the RMS Student Handbook with a request to review and offer feedback. The handbook is accessible online, but if families do not have internet access, the school will print a copy for them.
Four new staff members have joined Rochester Memorial.
Michael Forns is a new Grade 3 teacher. Introduced by Medeiros as “a bit of a journeyman” because of his versatile resume, it should be noted that Forns has traveled to 48 of the America’s 50 states, so he’s a journeyman in more ways than one.
“At times we joked that he should have had rollerblades because he was going from one room to the next,” said Medeiros of the former teacher who served Rochester Memorial in various capacities before returning to the classroom.
“This really is the best school system I have ever encountered,” said Forns. “The support from the top down to the colleagues that you work with is just, I mean, it’s unparalleled. The community itself, working with the kids, it’s a very special place.”
Paige Teves is a Grade 6 ELA teacher, and Alison Guard has joined the RMS staff as the principal’s new secretary and Janet Lepage is a new lunch aide at the school, returning from a brief retirement to resume her long career serving at RMS.
Later, Nelson noted the retirements of “beloved” RMS staffers Karen Lefebvre, Karen Della Cioppa, and Donna Abaray.
Medeiros said RMS is in the hiring process for a Grade 1-3 teacher.
Hartley welcomed all the new staff with a gift of apples. She also welcomed Jason Chisholm, who was attending his first meeting as a member of the Rochester School Committee.
Noting that the work of the budget subcommittee was key in helping the district get off to a great start, Nelson also thanked The Wanderer for its coverage of the Summer Acceleration Academy that brought K-2, Grades 3-4, 8, and 10 into ORR High School rooms for an intense week of learning on August 16-20. The K-2 students focused on early literacy, and the older grades focused on math.
Using data to identify which students could most benefit, the event drew over 150 students to get a head start on grade-level material and promote a sense of belonging. Nelson said the usage of data was pivotal in refocusing school on teaching and learning.
Faculty was also prepared for the new school year, as keynote speaker Keith Davis of the Say Yes Institute addressed district staff the day before classes opened.
Davis’ “push” forward philosophy was augmented by his “second half” awareness that referenced two distinctly different outcomes for the New England Patriots in Super Bowls. As examples, Davis used the Patriots’ loss to the New York Giants (for whom the linebacker briefly played before a knee injury prematurely ended his football career) and New England’s historic comeback against Atlanta that culminated in the only Super Bowl ever decided in overtime.
The RMS Committee held a reorganization vote, including appointments to subcommittees that meet either monthly or seasonally.
Hartley will once again serve as chairperson for the 2021-22 academic year. Accepting the nomination, Hartley indicated she intends to serve one more year. Anne Fernandes was voted as vice chair, and Diana Russo was voted to serve as secretary.
Chisholm volunteered to represent Rochester on the ORR District School Committee. At Nelson’s suggestion, Kate Duggan was appointed an alternate member to ensure Rochester fair representation for important votes in the absence of any regular member.
Hartley, Fernandes and Robin Rounseville had represented Rochester on the Superintendency Union #55 side of the Joint School Committee. Chisholm will replace Rounseville in that trio as well.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said he will provide a formal financial report in October. Barber offered a note to be aware that transportation restrictions are not the same as last school year, and also a food service summary.
Per the USDA, 100 percent of all meals were free in 2020-21. This year students receive free breakfast and lunch, but any additional lunches will be charged.
Nelson told the committee that air purifiers have been ordered and shipped for all classrooms in ORR district schools. HVAC and air-filter inspections were scheduled to take place on the September 4-5 weekend.
Chisholm suggested reporting to families on the results of such inspections and testing to address families’ concerns.
Dr. Janell Pearson-Campbell reported to the RMS Committee on the Teacher Collaborative that is currently assisting faculty members in their licensing for respective areas of practice. “Our teachers are currently in that process right now,” said Pearson-Campbell, who plans professional development opportunities for the staff in keeping with the district’s three priorities of 21st century learning, global citizenship, and project-based learning.
Director of Student Services Craig Davidson reported 16 fully enrolled pre-school students at RMS, and eight other students in Individualized Education Plans. Eight more students are on the waitlist in the event slots open up over the course of the academic year.
On Tuesday, October 19, ORR School District will hold its preschool screening during the day and, at night, hold its Tri-Town Early Childhood Council meeting from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm via Zoom. The format could change to in-person.
Davidson reported that he and Pearson-Campbell worked together with multiple teachers and Early Childhood coordinator Doreen Lopes on building equitable support for children with disabilities.
The grant-funded program from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education helped provide the basis for equitable support and anti-bias practices, allowing students to see themselves within the materials reflecting different nationalities, cultures, and race.
Nelson congratulated Davidson on his weekend wedding.
The RMS Committee concluded by entering executive session to discuss collective bargaining.
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for October 7. The next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for September 23. All meetings begin at 6:30 pm and are accessible via Zoom.
Rochester School Committee
By Mick Colageo