Superintendent’s Report – September 2020
The opening of our school to students on Tuesday, September 8th went much better than expected. Certainly, there were unanticipated problems, but, the staff have continued to solve the problems regarding school reopening as the problems occur. We are indeed fortunate, as members of the Hinsdale school community, to have a staff that is truly dedicated to serving our students and families.
Board member Kaylah Hemlow and I are regularly meeting with the leadership of the Hinsdale Federation of Teachers in order to maintain open channels of communication between the teachers, administration, and the Board. So far, all our meetings have been cordial and productive.
Board member Holly Kennedy and I have been meeting with the leadership of the Hinsdale Support Staff Association in order to better facilitate issues related to school re-opening. So far, all our meetings with the Hinsdale Support Staff Association have been cordial and productive.
We have a larger than usual sign-up for fall soccer. We have 40 Hinsdale Middle School students registered to play soccer and 36 Hinsdale High School students registered to play fall soccer. Our middle school students will only compete with Hinsdale students and our high school students will be competing with other schools but in a bubble-like environment. Each week, each high school team will be playing two games with the same team.
Hinsdale is one of thirteen New Hampshire schools that have been awarded a New Hampshire Rocks grant. New Hampshire Rocks is a new program designed to expand students’ musical opportunities in school music education programs. Our music teachers should receive some on-line instruction from professional musicians and we anticipate receiving some instruments for our students. Congratulations music teacher Matt Kennedy who wrote the grant for Hinsdale.
We held our first Hinsdale Schools Facilities Committee meeting on Friday, August 21st. The following Facilities Committee officers we elected for the 2020/2021 school year: Chair Jim O’Malley, Vice Chair Julia Kilelee, Secretary Joe Boggio. Our Director of Facilities, Shawn Lee, informed the committee that the HVAC air filters have been upgraded district wide from MERV 7 to MERV 11 in order to improve air quality and safety. In addition, iWave-C commercial air cleaners are being installed in the HVAC systems in both schools. These air purification systems purify the air supply killing mold, bacteria and viruses (tested to successfully reduce up to 99.4% of the COVID-19 virus particles in the air flow). Shawn Lee also installed UV sanitation lights in both nurses’ offices. Shawn informed the Facilities Committee that he had hired a part-time custodian to provided COVID related cleaning. Given that this expense is directly related to the need to provide extensive and regular cleaning due to COVID-19 we plan to use the second round of CARES Act funding to cover the cost of this custodian. It is expected that Congress will pass a second round of CARES Act funds by the end of September. If the second round of CARES Act funds are approved by Congress, we will take the funds from summer custodian salary savings.
We plan to begin working on action plans for the 2020/ 2021 Board Goals at our September 9th A-Team meeting.
The 2020-2021 Hinsdale School Board Goals are as follows:
- Curriculum and Instruction
Ensure that all students receive personalized guidance regarding post-secondary education or career options. (Our high school counselor and high school principal will lead the development of an action plan.
Provide students with educational opportunities and learning based upon the student’s unique needs, interests and learning styles. (Our Director of Personalized Learning and our Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment will lead this action plan.)
Establish continuity and collaboration in instruction between the school buildings. (Our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment will lead in the development of this action plan.)
Ensure all staff has access to pertinent trainings. (Our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, our Hinsdale Elementary School Principal and our HMHS Principal will lead in the development of this action plan.)
PACE-All grade levels will move towards performance assessment and enhanced personalized learning. (Our Director of Personalized Learning will lead the effort to develop this action plan.)
- Communication
Internal-Improve overall communication. (Our communications officer, our principals and I will work with the Board on this goal.)
External-Maintain communication to promote a collaborative relationship with the community in the following ways:
Continue to hold a minimum of two community forums during the school year.
Maintain a presence on other committees, boards and through attendance at community events in town.
Maintain relationships with town governing bodies.
- Culture
Promote a culture of kindness and open communication. (Our A-Team will collectively work to develop an action plan regarding this goal.)
Ensure clear behavioral expectations are communicated and followed up on regularly through the development and implementation of a district-wide behavior plan, the progress of which will be reported to the Board monthly by the Superintendent. (Our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment will work with the District Behavior Support Leadership Team to develop an action plan regarding this goal.)
Promote an atmosphere that supports an inclusive, professional learning community. (Our Administrative Team will work collectively to develop an action plan to support this goal.)
Support and promote anti-bullying practices and ensure policies are being followed. (Our HMHS Principal will lead the effort to develop an action plan for HMHS. Our HES Principal will lead the effort to development of an action plan for HES.)
Superintendent will spot check the bullying logs and report monthly to the Board
Support the development of a diversity plan that can be integrated throughout the district. (Our Director of Student Services, and our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment will lead the effort regarding the development of an action plan related to this goal.)
Acknowledge the diversity of student accomplishments in all areas. (Our Director of Student Services and our Principals will lead the effort regarding the development of an action plan related to this goal.)
- Personnel
Support initiatives to recruit and retain professional, high-quality staff that are innovative, dynamic and dedicated to the success of all students. (Our Principals, Superintendent, and our Director of Human Resources will lead the effort in the Development of this action plan.)
- Financial
Support ways to conduct business in the most efficient and effective manner. (Our Business Administrator will work with our cost center managers to develop an action plan related to this goal.)
Work with the administration to identify and secure additional sources of revenue. (Our Business Administrator and the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment will lead the effort to develop an action plan related to this goal.)
Work with the administration to present a warrant article to rebuild the expendable trust funds.(Our BA, with help from the Board and Budget Committee, will lead this action plan.)
Work with the Administration to proactively monitor the fund balance.
Maintain ongoing communication with the Budget Committee regarding any potential changes in funding and expenditures and continue to provide detailed backup information for the budget. (Our Business Administrator will lead the effort related to this action plan.)
- Security
Continue to review security audit information and move forward, in a fiscally responsible manner, to ensure our building are secure and our students and staff are safe. (Our Facility Committee will work with the HMHS assistant principal to develop an action plan to accomplish this goal.)
- Technology
Continue to align the district budget to support the 5-year plan of the Future Technology Committee. (Our Director of Technology will lead the work on this action plan.)
Ensure all staff has access to pertinent trainings. (Our Director of Technology will work with our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and the District Technology Team to develop this action Plan.)
- Facilities
Twice yearly School Board tours of all school buildings –1 tour during the school day and 1 tour when classes are not in session.
Fully utilize all building spaces. (Our principals will develop and building based action plan related to this goal.)