The Mattapoisett School Committee on September 12 moved the Old Rochester Regional School District one step closer to committee approval of all of the district’s 2024-2025 School Improvement plans by endorsing the plan for the Center School and Old Hammondtown School.
Over the next two years, Center School and Old Hammondtown School will be focusing on curriculum writing, a portrait of the graduate development, social emotional learning and ensuring our schools provide a safe and a welcoming learning environment, Superintendent of Schools Michael Nelson said in an explanation after the vote.
“The approval of our two-year School Improvement Plan was a huge accomplishment for our schools,” he said. “We are excited that this plan was approved by the (Mattapoisett) School Committee and will support our Vision 2028 system-wide strategic plan.”
Nelson explained in a meeting last year that all of the district’s six local schools will have a one-year improvement plan, then go back to two-year models for this school year, to be in sync with ORR’s five-year plan. The categories of Mission, Vision and Core Values will be the same across the district, especially in terms of literacy and curriculum.
The Marion School Committee made Marion’s Sippican School the last of the district’s six schools to approve its own 2024-2025 School Improvement Plan on September 19.
The Mattapoisett Committee on September 12 also approved the Mattapoisett schools’ 2024-2025 Student Handbook. This year’s Student Handbook includes an updated staff directory, state testing dates and updated discipline-related policies, Nelson said. The full Student Handbook is posted at oldrochester.org.
In other action, the committee accepted donations of $286.35 and $76.12 from Shutterfly, which will be added to the principal’s account to support academic programming outside of the operating budget.
Carly Lavin was reappointed Mattapoisett School Committee chairperson, and James Muse was reappointed vice-chairperson.
Muse was also reappointed to the represent Mattapoisett on the ORR School Committee, and Lavin, Cristin Cowles and Jack LeBrun were appointed to represent Mattapoisett on the Superintendency Union #55 side of the Joint School Committee.
The Mattapoisett School Committee will meet next on Thursday, October 17, at 6:00 pm in the Center School cafeteria, 17 Barstow Street, Mattapoisett.
Mattapoisett School Committee
By Michael J. DeCicco