Good Evening Everyone,
I hope this Superintendent Update for June 2021 finds you and yours well. As you are aware, throughout June we have been working diligently to continue our efforts with full in-person learning for all of our schools within the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District; and despite a couple of hot days recently, everyone has managed the transition to full in person learning five days per week well.
Enrollment: Currently, the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District is proud to serve more than 1,381 students. We have increased our enrollment by four students since the beginning of the school year. We have a number of students that due to the pandemic had their parents/families decide to stay home and home-school during this turbulent time. Please know that we work hard daily to adhere to all of the guidance received by our local boards of health, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department to Elementary and Secondary Education’s guidance materials as well as the technical assistance/advice from the Department of Public Health. Moreover, that when you as a family are ready, please know we are prepared and will do what is needed to promote safety, health and wellness as best we are able…so that your son or daughter returns to school and in-person teaching and learning.
Covid-19 Update: As a result of our due diligence and efforts to keep our students and staff safe and healthy, since we reopened our students to full-time in-person learning, five days per week, we have had only one student this month test positive for Covid-19 at David Prouty HS. We have had no confirmed cases of Covid-19 within Knox Trail Middle School, Wire Village School, and East Brookfield Elementary School nor among any of our faculty, staff or administration. At one point between May and June we had four weeks without one confirmed case of Covid-19 among any of our faculty or students.
The Rutland Vaccine Clinic is now closed. St. Vincent's Hospital and other local vaccine sites remain open, however. So, if you or anyone you know (ages 12 years old or older) is interested in getting the vaccine, please go to: https://www.maimmunizations.org/appointment/en/clinic/search for further details/information to learn more.
Knox Trail Innovation Lab Committee Forming Soon! As you know, during the April Break our custodial services went above and beyond and worked diligently to clean up the old wood shop in the downstairs space next to the gymnasium. They took on this cleaning project with the idea of getting the space ready and prepared for the Knox Trail Middle School “Innovation Lab.” Much of the old heavy equipment that could be repurposed was set aside in a back storage area - so that it could be donated to Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical School at alter date. However, the purpose of this cleaning project was to get it ready for what will become an “Innovation Lab” at Knox Trail Middle School. As a regional school district, our goal is to align our Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) efforts into a central classroom space that is multipurpose and able to support students with more hands-on, problem-based learning activities - not only at the middle school but also at the high school - so that our students have Innovative Learning Labs in grades 5-8 at Knox Trail and & 9-12 at David Prouty. As a result, the Principal of Knox Trail, Ralph Borseth, will soon be asking for students, parents, families and community members who have in interest in designing, developing and helping us make this “Innovation Lab” space a reality for students in grades 5-8. If interested, please reach out to Mr. Borseth via email at: borsethr@sebrsd.org.
MSBA Update: As you may or may not already know, we have secured our Owner Project Manager, Colliers, and our Architect in charge of Designer Services, Jones Whitsett, to begin the visioning work with our administration, faculty, and staff at David Prouty High School. Everyone is excited to take part in the current work providing input to the “visioning” needed for 21st century learning and our building project.
- Site Tours: Most recently, site tours of David Prouty High School took place with Jones Whitsett so they could capture the necessary data for beginning the visioning work ahead. Special thanks to Mrs. York, Principal, and Mr. Malone, as well as our custodial staff members for making themselves available for this review of our facility once more.
- Chapter 74 Viability Form Submission: Recently the Administration, faculty and staff at David Prouty High School completed the Chapter 74 viability form for the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The form provides data needed regarding the viability of our Chapter 74 programs and services for our students in four key areas of study: Early Education and Care; Business/Marketing; Criminal Justice; and Environmental Science. The School Committee will vote shortly on behalf of the district to submit this important data; and once more, members of our entire administration, faculty and staff at David Prouty High School cannot be thanked enough for providing such important data to the process for MSBA as it will drive parts of the visioning work that lies ahead for us.
- Visioning: The visioning work is the first step in the Third Module. This module signals the beginning of the feasibility study. It is at this point our district last engaged the Massachusetts School Building Authority in our prior project; and it is at this point where we truly begin to see the work take shape in earnest and ask for your continued partnership, support, and involvement throughout the remaining modules of the building project for a future David Prouty HS! We will continue to keep you informed of progress throughout the project and welcome your input, feedback and engagement so that this high school building project experiences success!
“Healthy Kids” Before/After School Program (BASP) Update: Recently, I submitted our online registration form to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for their approval to operate our Before/After-School Program in September. As I have just submitted this registration material to DESE, it will probably be approximately a week or two until we learn the results of our district submission. However, please know that we are in the planning stages and beginning to organize ourselves for a fall reopening of our BASP with a focus upon health and wellness for all students in grades PreK-6 who enroll. More news to follow as it becomes available.
Congratulations to the Class of 2021! On Friday, June 4th, 2021, our entire learning community celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2021 by recognizing 56 graduates in an indoor ceremony. In case you missed the David Prouty High School Graduation Exercises, the link on YouTube is: https://youtu.be/gg0yeGAaXzg. Once again, please join me in congratulating our David Prouty HS Class of 2021!
As well, the Knox Trail Middle School Graduation is planned for Wednesday, June 16, 20201 (Start Time 5:00pm). NOTE: The Knox Trail Middle School Graduation Ceremony will take place at the David Prouty High School Football field. As well, please know that due to current COVID-19 safety protocols, all district events will have limited attendance in keeping with the DESE Guidance from May 18th, 2021 & May 27th, 2021, respectively.
And finally, the last day of school is a half day for all schools within the district and will be Thursday, June 17, 2021. As always, I deeply appreciate your continued partnership and support of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District. It has been an honor and privilege to serve you and your children this school year! #Progress #Unity #Knowledge
Sincerely yours,
Paul S. Haughey, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
@MASchoolsK12 @MASCSchoolComm