The Shrewsbury Public Schools, in partnership with the community, will provide students with the skills and knowledge for the next century, an appreciation of our democratic tradition, and the desire to continue to learn throughout life.
School Committee Liaison: David Keenan and Mark Murray
Central Office Liaison: Anthony J. Bent
The Shrewsbury Public Schools will foster meaningful
relationships with parents, local businesses, and the community at
large that will result in broad understanding of the mission of the
schools and the commitment to be involved.
1) Support the effort to resolve Shrewsbury's short-term school space problems (Central Office):
a) Convene the Coordinating Council and hold public forums to recommend a short-term solution to the School Committee.b) Work with town officials to provide necessary funding for additional classrooms, or other spaces, for the 1999-2000 school year.
c) Develop a school budget to provide staffing and instructional materials to support increased enrollments and additional classrooms.
d) Develop plans for the relocation of the Beal West Program.
2) Support the effort to resolve Shrewsbury's long term school space problems (Central Office, High School and Middle School Administrators, Teachers):
a) Continue to work with the High School/Middle School Building Committee to plan for the construction of a new high school and the renovation of the existing high school as a middle school.b) Continue to work with high school and middle school administrative committees to develop the educational program for the new high school and second middle school.
c) Provide information to town officials and the community regarding the development of the building projects.
3) Expand collaboration on a pre-K through 12 basis with community organizations (Central Office, Principals, Directors):
a) Evaluate the DARE Program (with the Police Department).b) Establish police liaisons with each Shrewsbury school.
c) Offer courses in Chinese and Russian with St Johns High School.
d) Pursue more formalized interactions with Clark University, Holy Cross College and Assumption College to develop courses and other programs for high school students.
e) Provide technology training for seniors through the Council on Aging.
f) Expand collaboration with Parks and Recreation to coordinate programming for the inclusion of students with special needs in Parks and Recreation activities.
g) Continue to build a collaborative system of early childhood programs through the grant, "The Community Partnership for Children."
h) Expand outreach efforts (performances and displays) to senior residential communities and other organizations (Art and Music).
i) Expand the High School summer reading program to include community volunteers.
j) Develop activities and reduced price options to encourage senior citizens to attend athletic events and school performances.
k) Pilot a program at the high school for community service learning.
4) Strengthen the collaboration with the Shrewsbury Education Association (School Committee, Central Office, Shrewsbury Education Association):
a) Establish a collaborative environment for contract negotiations.b) Complete a new collective bargaining agreement in a timely fashion.
5) Sponsor district-wide forums on the following topics (Central Office, Principals, Directors, Teachers):
a) School facilities.b) Curriculum initiatives: elementary language arts, portable computing.
c) Assessment: Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System.
d) Learning styles and flexible grouping.
e) Child Development: supporting parents.
6) Expand internship and externship opportunities for students in grades 1 to 12 (Principals, Directors, Teachers):
a) Join the Assabet School-to-Career Collaborative and begin a K-12 effort.b) Expand high school collaborations with local businesses (Quantum, Worcester Magazine, Spags, Lamoureux Pagano Associates)
c) Pilot a Middle School program to establish internships for career awareness for students in grades 6 to 8.
d) Continue successful collaborations with General Motors, Spags, and The Shrewsbury Children's Center.
e) Establish a partnership with Border's Books Music and Café.
7) Engage the parent community in a discussion regarding the relationship between student attendance and academic achievement (Central Office, Principals):
a) Refine student registration procedures.b) Establish procedures for tracking excessive student absences.
c) Compile and analyze data regarding student attendance.
d) Compile and analyze data regarding the relationship of student employment to academic achievement.
e) Discuss student attendance with parents at School Council Meetings, in Newsletters, on Superintendent's Forum, and in the Shrewsbury School Journal .
f) Present a report to the School Committee.
g) Develop a School Committee Policy regarding this issue.
School Committee Liaison: Cheryl Casey and Deborah Peeples
Central Office Liaison: Michael F. Brandmeyer
The Shrewsbury Public Schools will:
Provide its students with a highly skilled teaching staff, a
rich and varied curriculum, state-of-the-art technology, appropriate
school facilities, and a culture that promotes high standards, and
achievement for all students;
Model democratic values by encouraging student leadership on
important issues, valuing diversity in the student population and
teaching our local and national heritage.
1) Continue to develop and support a highly-skilled teaching staff (Central Office, Principals, Directors, Teachers):
a) Implement a high quality teacher supervision and evaluation program with a focus on:i) curriculumii) assessment
iii) competence in technology
iv) instructional strategies
b) Expand and develop the mentoring program for beginning teachers and the support team for experienced teachers who need assistance.
c) Expand professional development opportunities:
i) Update the district's professional development plan.ii) Develop graduate courses and workshops.
iii) Distribute a quarterly professional development update to the faculty.
iv) Provide workshops in student assessment, learning styles, curriculum frameworks, and technology.
v) Provide professional development for instructional aides and clerical staff.
2) Develop strategies to attract a diverse and high quality teaching staff and provide support to implement the district's extensive personnel procedures (Central Office, Principals):
a) Develop strategies to recruit minority candidates.b) Meet with minority candidates on college campuses to encourage careers in teaching.
c) Establish the position of Personnel Director in the FY00 Budget Proposal.
3) Support an environment in all schools and classrooms that promotes tolerance, respect and an appreciation of diversity (Central Office, Principals, Directors, Teachers):
a) Review professional literature on the issues of prejudice reduction at the district leadership team.b) Plan for district and school-based activities in this area for the 1999-00 school year.
c) Engage a keynote speaker on the topic of diversity for the opening of school in September 1999.
4) Review and enhance the curriculum PreK-12 (Central Office, Principals, Directors, Teachers):
a) Continue to focus on standards based curriculum using the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as guiding documents.b) Continue with K-12 Curriculum Review Committee in Language Arts, Visual Arts by scheduling Visiting Teams.
c) Establish K-12 Curriculum Review Committees in mathematics, health, physical education and family and consumer science, and science and technology.
d) Review and evaluate the allied arts program at the Middle School.
e) Evaluate and expand recent district-wide adoptions of MathLand and Literatureworks.
f) Support the continued development of the flexible grouping of students at the elementary level through looping and multi-age classrooms.
g) Participate in the Mobile Inquiry Technology Project focused on integrating technology into the science and mathematics classroom in grades 4, 5 and 6.
h) Develop additional vocational education opportunities for students at the high school through the effective implementation of Perkins Funds.
5) Continue to promote high expectations and support for all students (Principals, Directors, Teachers):
a) Develop opportunities for students in grades 9 and 10 to prepare for advanced placement classes.b) Arrange to have high school students interact with middle school students on issues of high achievement and advanced course placement.
c) Participate in a design project for Community Service Learning for students in grades 9-12.
d) Establish committees for high achieving students in each elementary school.
e) Review and expand opportunities for high achieving students at the Middle School.
f) Continue to support the inclusionary practices of the district to ensure that special education students are provided the same impetus and motivation for excellence.
g) Implement world language instruction after school for students new to Shrewsbury and for those needing additional support.
h) Strengthen interdisciplinary programs at the High School in American Studies, Science and Technology, and Wellness.
6) Provide state-of-the-art technology for all students and teachers K-12, through the implementation of the district's technology plan (Principals, Directors):
a) Develop and adopt competencies and assessment strategies for students and teachers.b) Demonstrate specific curriculum activities and learning outcomes, K-12.
7) Evaluate and revise the Summer School Program for 1999 (Central Office, Principals):
a) Develop academic programming for MCAS.b) Establish a Middle School Summer School Program.
c) Expand enrichment opportunities for students at all levels.
8) Continue to promote student leadership in the district, K-12 (Principals):
a) Continue the development of student councils.b) Evaluate the success of student councils in each school.
c) Expand participation in Education and Leadership in a Non-Violent Age (ELNA).
d) Continue to seek leadership opportunities for student decision making in schools.
9) Continue to promote teacher leadership in the district (Central Office, Principals, Directors, Shrewsbury Education Association):
a) Explore leadership opportunities for teachers with the Shrewsbury Education Association.b) Strengthen the mentoring program.
c) Establish teachers as mentors for colleagues in need of support in the Supervision and Evaluation Program.
d) Survey staff regarding interest in workshops on school administration and leadership.