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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report2-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT North Andover Public School System 2006-2007 Introduction FY 2007 proved to be a very difficult year for the North Andover Public School System. The School Committee faced budgetary shortfalls and changes in leadership. Audits by several external organizations spotlighted areas of concern, both academic and financial, that needed to be addressed. The elementary, middle and high schools experienced larger class sizes. The middle and high schools had to adjust building schedules to accommodate the loss of electives. After conducting an extensive audit, the Department of Education's Education Quality Assurance (EQA)team gave the district a Management Quality Index rating of`Poor', with the lowest in leadership and governance. In October 2006 the New England Association of Schools and Colleges placed North Andover High School on warning status sighting staffing cuts, elimination of course offerings, and increased class sizes. The abrupt departure of the Superintendent in April 2006 triggered a year long exodus of key central office, building leadership and teaching staff In June, the School Committee appointed Dr. O'Conor interim superintendent and undertook an effort to begin rebuilding the leadership team. A twenty-three member superintendent search committee worked diligently through the fall and winter to recruit and interview candidates for the permanent position. After an extensive search the School Committee was unable to select a qualified candidate. To fill the position for the FY 2007-2008 school year the Committee recruited Dr. V. James Marini, an experienced retiring Winchester superintendent. Despite the numerous challenges and changes facing the North Andover Public Schools, students continued to work hard and perform well. In a presentation to the North Andover School Committee the EQA praised North Andover students and staff for their hard work and commitment to education. NEASC reported that"As a result of the faculty's enthusiasm for and dedication to students, the very positive climate of the high school and positive attitude of the students towards their school and teachers have been maintained throughout these very difficult and discouraging times." Elementary Schools The Elementary Schools opened on Tuesday, September 5th with 2,160 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through five. The district provided six preschool classrooms serving 94 young children. The staff worked diligently to create a supportive and caring school environment. During the 2006-2007 school year the elementary schools were faced with large classes. There were several classes with over 30 students in the classroom, the elementary libraries were closed, and one principal was running two schools. The teaching staff, despite very challenging times, continued to work hard for all students. Our elementary students grew as readers, writers and thinkers. The students performed well in their daily work and on mandated tests. Test data was examined to determine areas of weakness and teachers met regularly by grade-level teams to review curriculum, share information and materials, and discuss appropriate instructional practices to meet the needs of all students. Keeping with district initiatives, teaching and learning practices expanded this school year. Elementary teachers piloted new science materials and primary teachers used both the DIBELS and GRADE testing to better inform their reading instruction. Math and reading tutors were also employed to offer remedial help to several students. Teachers in preschool through grade five engaged in professional development to support current teaching and learning practices. Active parent organizations supported the elementary schools both financially and through volunteer support in the classrooms. PTO's provided fun family activities, coordinated a newsletter at each school and helped manage the various websites. The North Andover Enrichment Council brought many wonderful programs to the schools where the children learned about owls, music, electricity, art and dance. As always, students were encouraged to be kind to one another and to extend themselves beyond the school community. During the year students and staff recycled, provided Thanksgiving meals for many families, collected winter coats for those in need, held a penny drive to raise money for Leukemia patients and engaged in several other service learning projects. Many students participated in our many clubs and activities including Chess Club, Early Act, Student Council, and Journalism Club. The elementary schools continue to reach beyond the school walls to affect others positively. At the end of the year, a valued member of the elementary administration, Nancy Jukins, Principal of the Kittredge and Atkinson Schools, retired in June after devoting 30 years to the North Andover Public Schools. The leadership team thanks her for her hard work and dedication to the students of North Andover. During her tenure in North Andover, Ms, Jukins served on several curriculum committees, worked diligently to create caring and supportive school cultures and always gave her best to increase student participation and achievement. North Andover Middle School (NAMS) Student enrollment at the Middle School decreased this year from 1,156 to 1,102 students with a breakdown of 340 students in 6th grade, 375 in 7th grade and 387 in 8th grade. Class sizes averaged from 32-35 in 7th and 8th grade and approximately 25 in the 6th grade. Faced with budget cuts NAMS administration had to reorganize to address student needs, state and federal regulations, contractual agreements, and to retain the middle school culture. NAMS reorganized the building schedule from quarters to trimesters which allowed for building consistency, more flexibility with instructional time, the replacement of potentially large study halls with team directed studies, and a related arts rotation that brought all programming to all three grade levels. NAMS reorganized the 6th grade teams into 2 person teams. Staff reductions impacted the frequency of band, foreign language curriculum, class size, reading instruction, special education, counseling for at-risk students, technology, teacher communication and planning, and overall related arts programming. In 2006-2007 the faculty at the NAMS piloted different approaches to teacher/parent conferences. All three grade levels involved the students in a portfolio approach. The 8th grade students participated in high school leveling conversations with their teachers and parents. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and the administration will continue this model in 2007-2008. In June 2007 the NAMS said goodbye to Steve Buco. Steve Buco retired after 27 years in education, the majority at North Andover High School teaching science. During that time he coached several sports teams and was the advisor to a variety of student organizations. Mr. Buco was appointed to the assistant principal position at NAMS in 1999. While Mr. Buco appreciated his experience working with high school age students, he found his passion at the middle level where he strongly felt that he had a significant impact on students' attitudes, values, and character. Mr. Buco is currently enjoying his retirement in Florida, and his humor and dedication is definitely missed at NAMS. North Andover High School (NAHS) In 2006-2007 the NAHS started the year with 1,365 students. The 2006-2007 student/teacher ratio was 18.7:1, significantly above the state average of 13.2:1. Thirty seven classes had thirty or more students. Loss of electives due to staffing cuts led to schedule changes. As staff attempted to schedule the school during the 2006 summer, they quickly realized that the loss of teaching positions would impact their ability to schedule students using the current school schedule. The 2005-2006 schedule consisted of a 7 period day with a drop period every day enabling students the opportunity to elect 7 classes. Over the past 5 years, a 29% increase in enrollment and a decrease in staff meant a significant percentage of students would be assigned to double directed studies. To address their concerns the staff quickly determined that a change to the school schedule was in order to ensure that students were in 6 classes and in compliance with the 990 hours of instruction. In 2006-2007 the schedule was changed to include six sixty five minute periods a day with no study hall. Schedule changes meant teachers were no longer available for a duty period. The NAHS administration was challenged to cover the lunch duty which amounts to approximately 90 minutes per day. The Director of Guidance, the Athletic Director, and the two assistant principals are assigned the full 90 minutes for lunch every day. Guidance counselors were assigned to cover 30 minutes of lunch every day. However, the administration took steps to ensure there was one guidance counselor NOT on lunch duty in case of an emergency. Department chairs were assigned to cover 60 minutes of lunch every day. In preparation for its ten-year on-site evaluation and accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAS&C), NAHS professional staff continued its self-study deliberations which began in June 2005. To become accredited, and periodically thereafter, institutions are asked to engage in comprehensive and rigorous self-examinations and produce a self-study based on the seven NEAS&C standards for accreditation. Mary Julie Gregoire and Kelly Driscoll served as Co-chairs of the NEAS&C Steering Committee. At North Andover High School the entire faculty and staff were members of the following seven subcommittees: (1) Mission& Expectations for student learning, (2) Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment of student learning, (3) Leadership and organization, (4) School resources for learning, and (5) Community resources for learning In 2007 NAHS said goodbye to two members of its leadership team, Susan Nicholson and William Boutilier. Susan served as assistant principal from 1997-1999 and as principal from 1999-2007. Susan is credited with leading the smooth transition from the old North Andover High School building to a new state of the art facility in February of 2004. Susan accepted a position as assistant superintendent for curriculum in a neighboring community. Bill Boutilier, fondly know by many as "Boots" worked for NAHS for 34 years, all but one as a social studies teacher. Bill was willing to forgo retirement for a year, returning to NAHS to fill-in as interim assistant principal until a permanent replacement could be found. Conclusion By the end of FY 2007 the Committee had in place a strong leadership team and a transition plan to begin addressing concerns raised by NEASC, EQA, parents, staff and the community. The passage of the Proposition 2 1/5 override in July of 2007 allowed the Committee to address several budget shortfalls including the restoration of an elementary school principal, the middle school related arts programs and staff at the high school to address NEASC concerns. On October 19th, 2007 NEASC removed North Andover from warning status after learning of additional staffing, implementation of a pilot schedule and passage of the override. The North Andover Public School System entered the 2007-2008 school year in a much stronger position. Prepared by: Barbara Whidden, Chairwoman, North Andover School Committee; Principals Pamela Lathrop, Greg Landry, Beth Kline, John McAleer, Richard Cushing and Joan McQuade; and, NAHS Assistant Principal Gregg Gilligan.