Past issues of the "From the Superintendent" newsletter
From the Superintendent, June 2009
I promised myself I would not write the "It's hard to believe...." last newsletter of the year. So instead, this is the "Transitions" last newsletter of the year.
Transitions are a part of everyone's life. While transitions can be anxiety-provoking because of the unknowns or melancholy because what was deemed good and comfortable will be no longer be true, transitions are simultaneously times of pending excitement, new beginnings and renewal. This certainly is what June brings to Sudbury Public Schools.
We close another school year. I shared with you in my last newsletter some of the points of pride that I believe demonstrate that 2008-09 was highly successful. I won't reiterate them here but I unabashedly brag that what our students and staff accomplished this year, given the constraint on resources and increasingly high expectations, was simply outstanding.
For some time now, many of us have had our eyes squarely on next year. Clearly, the economy continues to color and play a major role in our efforts and plans for continued improvement. Town meeting and the budget were delayed twice in order to gather more reliable information to make decisions. When all is said and done, it appears we will still have to reduce our budget by $724,000 and the equivalent of 12.3 fulltime staff members for next year. This is a tough message to send and receive. Things will be different and harder next year. I refuse to wallow in what we do not have and cannot do, but focus on ensuring that what we have and do is of quality. We will not be lowering our expectations for quality teaching and learning, but there is a realism of change that must be faced when our budget has grown at only 0.6% per year since 2007.
June is also a transition time for students. Moving from the structured life of the school year to a more relaxed schedule of the summer is generally welcomed by students and receives a mixed review from parents. Our current eighth graders are thinking about moving on to high school. I know they are prepared academically and that LS is ready to meet and assist them. Students, despite their need to profess maturity and readiness, cannot help but have a little trepidation about this transition. My two-cents to parents are to engage your soon-to-be freshman throughout the summer, listen well and often, and provide continual love and assurance.
Our 5th graders likewise are about to make the transition to Curtis Middle School. My comments about students moving to high school hold equally true for those moving to the middle school. I also suggest that if parents are observing that their soon-to-be sixth grader is extremely anxious and scared of the transition, that you call one of the Curtis administrators. They are happy to help your child (and you) to becoming a student at ECMS.
As I think of student transitions, I cannot help but recall my granddaughter Lauren telling me at the end of her kindergarten year, "you know Boppa, I'm going into the grades." So congratulations to all of our kindergarten students who no longer will be in 'K', but are now moving into the 12-year period of '1st through 12th grade." Thanks too, to all of our kindergarten teachers. This was a difficult year of transition for them as well. Larger class sizes and loss of classroom assistants presented real adjustment and operational challenges. As I visited the K classrooms, you would have never known this. Our wonderful K teachers went over-and-above to ensure students learned. We are excited about kindergarten (full day and half-day) next year, but kudos to our kindergarten staff for their accomplishments this year.
June brings other transitions like new PTO and SERF officers and leaders. I cannot imagine SPS without the wonderful and integral contributions from the PTOs and SERF. At one point in time, these groups provided enrichment to our curriculum and school programs. With declining resources, their contributions from Activboards and technology to enrichment programs to teacher grants and resource materials to support so that all children are able to participate in every activity have now become part of the core of what we do. Recently I shared that the PTOs and SERF have always made SPS a special place; that is truer today than ever before. I urge you to thank these volunteers for their tireless and often underappreciated efforts.
Finally, the melancholy transition that we have to face each June is the moving-on of wonderful educators and friends. This year, six (at this point in time) staff members have decided to make that transition into retirement. We will say goodbye to: Haynes PE teacher, Asa Dye, 39 years in SPS; Nixon 4th grade teacher, Beverly Barber, 23 years, Loring Art Teacher, Jeanne Goldner, 22 years; District Technology Director, Bob Kavanagh, 15 years; District Payroll and Transportation Specialist, Jean Natale, 13 years; and Loring nurse, Lynn Hersh, 5 years. Thank you seems a little hollow for all these educators have given to our students and this community, but knowing them as I do, I know that their rewards came from the faces and smiles of the children, an opportunity to work with wonderful colleagues, and to serve in a town like Sudbury. That said, a thank you from parents goes a long way and means more to educators that you can imagine. We will miss these educators and I know that, while their positions will be filled, they will not be replaced.
One retirement that I would like to mention is not an SPS staff member but a person who has done so much for, and meant so much to, our students during their transitions to, and through, high school. LS Principal/Superintendent John Ritchie is retiring at the end of this year and that is a loss. I have great respect for Dr. Ritchie, the educator and the man. He loved kids and kids loved him. Through adversity and personal angst, he remained true to his beliefs and values and to his students. Higher praise could not be paid to any educator. I consider his retirement as a loss and join with everyone in wishing him good health and happiness.
So, we move into and through the transition that we know as June. June is a time for summer vacations, a time to reconnect with life, friends and family, a time for cleaning the schools top to bottom, planning for the opening of the 2009-10 school year, and for reflecting on what was and what lies ahead. Blame it on snow days and a late Labor Day, but we'll be back together in a short 66 days; for me, that's a transition of renewal and excitement that makes me smile.
Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting your most valuable treasure with us. They are the reason we are here and the reason SPS is a special place to grow and learn.
John R. Brackett
Superintendent of Schools