Schools ready to open
Published on September 5th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA -The doors are ready to open at Stoneham Schools this week and along with the traditional new clothes, shoes, haircuts, and attitudes that accompany the start of a new school year, is a slew of new faces to greet students.
Staff changes have kept Stoneham's school superintendent busy this summer. Dr. Les Olson, himself new to the system following the retirement of former school superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly, is likely feeling a bit like a veteran hiring agent, as one of his first orders of business was to keep pace with the quickly revolving door that veteran and newer teachers have been passing through at lightening speed.
"It is discouraging that we are still having staff walking in and resigning, even as early as this morning," Olson told the School Committee on Thursday.
Many teachers who had previously applied elsewhere are getting hiring calls as those districts continue to finalize their staff assignments at this late date. Olson said Stoneham teachers are being lured to other school systems for $10,000-$15,000 salary increases. Some teachers who were hired in Stoneham early this summer have even changed their minds and are not honoring the contracts they've signed.
"While you understand their personal decision to do so, it raises questions about the ethics and value of personal commitment to a district."
"It's unfortunate that we're losing experienced staff," School Committee Chairwoman Maureen Soley said.
But of the 55 teacher openings this summer, Olson reported that 49 have been filled, and the majority of those new teachers attended orientation last week.
"It was fantastic to see the dedication and commitment of the staff who were here this morning," he said on Thursday. "We're ready and anxious for school to begin."
Olson praised building principals and Assistant Superintendent Anne Patriquin for an outstanding job in attracting candidates to Stoneham. Patriquin explained that 49 Stoneham teachers will act as mentors for the new teachers. A new mentor training program will hopefully be run this year by the Massachusetts Teachers Association in order to provide Stoneham additional mentors to rely on. If a minimum of 18 individuals cannot be obtained, Patriquin said she will look to a cooperative plan with Melrose or Wakefield in order to get the program run. Of the six positions still open at the end of last week, including a high school guidance counselor, foreign language teacher, special education teacher and a Middle School music teacher, Olson advised that interviews were still ongoing and contingency plans were in place should the positions remain unfilled on opening day, September 6. Olson complimented the town on its "great spirit and cooperation" as displayed at the recent school readiness meeting with the school administration, Fire Department, Police Department and Department of Public Works.
Enrollment
The 2,691 students expected to kick off the new school year represents a decrease in enrollment of 98 students from the number reported on October 1 of last year. Olson said much of the decrease is understandable - a smaller incoming Kindergarten class than last year of about 20 students, as well as a smaller senior class by another 20 students. Reasons for decreases at other grade levels are less clear, such as a decrease of 16 students going from grade 1 to grade 2.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!