Holliston School Committee News
School Committee Newsletter Issue #4 -- February 1, 2018
In this issue: Teacher Contract Approved, $50K Awarded for #HollistonInnovates, Superintendent Presents Budget for 2018-2019, RAMS Principal Finalists Named, First Steps in Evaluating Future of HHS, Contact Us
On February 1, the School Committee voted unanimously, with one member absent, to ratify a new contract with the Holliston Federation of Teachers (HFT). Even though it was a long negotiating period, it was collegial and collaborative throughout. HFT members voted to ratify the contract on January 29.
School Committee Chair Anne Louise Hanstad thanked the HFT negotiating committee and Jaime Cutone, president of the HFT, for their time and commitment.
A few details:
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The three-year contract runs from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2020, retroactive to September 1.
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Cost-of-living adjustments, which are separate from step and lane increases that staff may be eligible for, are 1.25% in year one, 2.5% in year two, and 2.25% in year three.
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The contract establishes a Professional Development Council, which includes teachers and administrators who will work together to come up with the best model for teacher education.
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We will begin incorporating student feedback into the teacher evaluation process in compliance with state law.
Special thanks to School Committee members Martha Devoe, Andy Morton, and Anne Louise Hanstad, as well as Superintendent Brad Jackson and Keith Buday, the district’s business manager, for their many hours of hard work to negotiate this contract.
The Holliston Education Foundation has pledged a $50,000 grant from Middlesex Bank to the district’s innovation efforts. Dr. Jackson announced at the beginning of the school year that Holliston teachers will get new support in trying innovative teaching methods and lessons as a way to better engage students and support 21st century skills, such as collaborative problem solving, critical thinking, and communications. Search #HollistonInnovates on Twitter to see ongoing examples.
Adams Middle School Principal Finalists Named
Three finalists have been named for the Robert Adams Middle School principal position, following an in-depth search conducted by a Screening Committee made up of teachers, parents, and administrators.
The finalists are Lynne Blumer Beattie, K-12 digital literacy administrator for Concord Public Schools, who was previously Concord Middle School principal; David Jordan, current interim principal at Adams who served as assistant principal there starting in 2013; and Andrew Rosenshine, assistant principal at Concord Middle School.
If you are interested in the process, here are the key dates:
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Monday, Feb. 26: Site visit for David Jordan, parent reception/open house 4:00-5:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, Feb. 27: Site visit for Drew Rosenshine, parent reception/open house 4:00-5:00 p.m.
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Thursday, March 1: Site visit for Lynne Beattie, parent reception/open house 4:00-5:00 p.m.
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Thursday, March 8: Superintendent Office Hours for public input from parents, 7:30 p.m.
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Monday, March 12: Superintendent announces the successful candidate.
The Future of Holliston High School
Dr. Jackson is recommending the town submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts State Building Association to try to gain the state’s partnership in evaluating the deficiencies of the school’s structure. There is no cost to the town to submit an SOI, but the recommendation must be approved by the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen. The School Committee unanimously voted to move forward at its meeting February 1.
HHS was built in 1969 and underwent a $26 million renovation in 2001. There are at least $10 million in maintenance and repair needs in the next decade because several systems and parts will need to be replaced soon. It also doesn’t meet the needs of the types of programs and instruction now offered. Some of the deficiencies the superintendent cited include:
Inflexible classroom space
Inefficient, sprawling building design
Copyright © 2018 Holliston School Committee, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive communications from the Holliston School Committee on meeting updates, meeting summaries, and general communication.
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Holliston School Committee
Hollis St
Holliston, MA 01746
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Copyright © 2018 Holliston School Committee, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive communications from the Holliston School Committee on meeting updates, meeting summaries, and general communication.
Our mailing address is:
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Insufficient athletic facilities
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Out-of-date science labs
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Poor on-site traffic flow and inadequate parking
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Lack of adequate small-group meeting space
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Lack of meeting space and adequate storage space for educators
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Limited network bandwidth to support more than 1,000 wireless devices
Holliston School Committee
Hollis St
Holliston, MA 01746
Add us to your address book