SHS senior ranked number one for three years
Published on November 12th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham High School Senior Scott DeAmicis, who has ranked number one in his class for the past three years, was honored last week by School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly with the Superintendent's Academic Excellence Award.
According to Connelly, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents allows school superintendents to recognize a high school senior at the beginning of each year for academic excellence. While the tradition of doing so existed in Stoneham many years ago, Connelly decided to bring it back and DeAmicis, with his parents John and Linda looking on, was the first to receive the honor from Connelly.
A member of the Stoneham High School Band, track team and yearbook staff, DeAmicis is currently working on his college applications and looking at Amherst, Boston College, Trinity, Georgetown, and Colgate to name a few. He now has a very coveted distinction to add.
Central School PTL
Last Thursday's meeting was held at Central School and Central School PTL president Wendy Pignone updated the board on the organization's activities.. In addition to launching Visionary and Welcoming Committees to plan for upcoming events and make sure new school families are included and informed, Central School boasts a large pool of parent volunteers for which Principal Kathy Windisch is grateful.
"I'm incredibly fortunate to have the type of PTL I've had for the past seven years...We have a marvelous working relationship," she said.
Central School acknowledged Veteran's Day last week with a moving program that helped students understand the role of veterans, and included the reading of a letter from a soldier in Iraq, written to his parents and sister. That soldier is Windisch's son.
"It was a wonderful experience. I really don't think there was a dry eye in the house," Connelly said.
Teacher Contracts
The School Committee ratified a contract with the Stoneham Teachers' Assoc-iation last week. Negotiations with teachers began in January and concluded last month. The contract is retroactive to September and extends through the academic year 2005-2006. Salary increased range from .75 percent with step raises where applicable to 2 percent in the first year; 2.5 percent in the second year and 2.75 percent in the third year, with step increases where applicable. The contract also includes criminal background checks, adoption leave benefits, and expanded opportunities for teachers to access professional development credits for recertification.
Members Marie Christie, Cheryl Walsh and Kristen Russo approved the motion to ratify. Chairman Marc Grimaldi and Daniel Moynihan were unable to attend Thursday's meeting but, according to Connelly, both support the contract.
Professional Development Updates
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joseph Casey presented to the School Committee a newly developed, comprehensive professional development calendar that outlines opportunities for professional development throughout the year for teachers in all areas. Despite a tight budget, Casey stressed that this area must not be neglected and grant money has been aggressively sought to enhance opportunities.
"The bottom line is...to help teachers do the best they can for the students. We need to give them as much content knowledge as they need and as much instructional skills as they need to communicate to children."
The goals of professional development, according to Casey, include supporting early learning initiatives, using test data to make a difference in the classroom, and offering course work for teachers to maintain certification..
"We're doing what we can to help Stoneham teachers move forward to benefit students in the classroom."
Committee member Kristen Russo said she was impressed with the calendar's depth in each area.
Casey also provided a curriculum update for both the elementary and secondary levels. Data from MCAS and other assessments are used to compare Stoneham with state frameworks as well as with other systems. Textbook adoptions are typically ongoing and as frameworks change, curriculum instruction must change too. However, Casey stressed that change for the sake of change is not happening and "as long as it (textbook) meets the needs of our students, it's still a valuable tool."
"If data shows there is a gap, then we research, pilot, and adopt new books."
A Phonics pilot program was launched last year at the Central School with grant money, while Colonial Park is piloting a math program. Several local universities have also worked with Stoneham in curriculum research programs, including Harvard, Endicott, and Salem State. Casey cautioned, however, that while these opportunities are great and cutting edge, it must always first be determined whether or not they work within Stoneham's initiatives..
Budget
The town's money woes will continue to grow, it is projected, and according to Connelly, the Selectmen announced at last week's summit meeting that the shortfall for FY2005 is expected to reach $4.5 million.
Finance Board member John Warren told the committee that the shortfall is almost a 50-50 split between shortfalls in revenue and rising costs. Primary reasons for the expected shortage include loss of significant state aid on the revenue side and huge increases in health insurance and a retirement fund assessment on the expense side.
To deal with the $4.5 million shortage means "we'll have to change the way the town is operating," Warren predicted.
"This is too big of a gap to put a bandaid on," Christie said.
Connelly said that while each department must evaluate what expenditures can be avoided, "you can't make up a deficit of $4.5 million just by tightening your belt."
Warren added that while several revenue generating ideas have been pursued, some, such as sale of town land, have failed at Town Meeting. But ideas for revenue generation are still welcome.
Committee member Cheryl Walsh encouraged the public to pass on such ideas.
"We need to talk this through...We need to hear the voice of the public."
Some good news regarding the budget was reported for a change last week. According to Connelly, state aid has been cut again, this time in the form of Circuit Breaker money for special education. However, Stoneham Director of Pupil Personnel Robert McArdle anticipated this and planned accordingly last year.
When the state announced a change in the formula for reimbursing towns a portion of their residential special education tuition last year, McArdle did not anticipate receiving the full funding per the new formula and planned for this circumstance during the budget process.
Connelly said that the state has recently announced that it would not be able to meet the demands of the formula developed last year and has changed it again. Typically, this would send the schools into a quandary, as is likely happening right now in other towns, but since McArdle planned for such, the news will not devastate an already hurting budget.
"Luckily for us, our Sped Administrator anticipated that it would not happen...Because of our budget strategies last spring, we will not have a shortfall," Connelly said.
In other budget news, the School Department has already set out to spend the $620,000 that Town Meeting voters approved last month in order to address major repairs for the Middle and High schools.
Roof, window, and emergency doors are among the items mandated for repair or replacement by the Building Inspector and Connelly was hoping that construction drawings would be completed this week. The School Department has sought a waiver to avoid going out to public bid due to the long bid process but Connelly assured that several bids quotes would be sought with award going to the low bidder.
Much of the work will be done while school is in session, but principals in both schools will be involved with the process to ensure the least disruptive and safe environment for students.
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