News from the Masconomet Superintendent

Both finalists for the position of Principal of Masconomet, Katie DiNardo and Dan Hudder, completed their on-site interviews at Masconomet this week. During their visit the candidates met with district administration, high school students, high school leadership, department heads, and the high school faculty. Both candidates also participated in public interviews held via Zoom for parents and interested members of the community. Everyone who met with the candidates has been asked to complete a feedback form that I will use to help me make my final decision.

The public interviews were recorded so interested members of the community who were unable to attend can view the videos and submit feedback. Both videos are posted below.

The feedback form can be accessed at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqHi0ib6J7FVsKWuYHeLUqG7neZbP-LgIdCQtCIAlBI5Gzbw/viewform?usp=sf_link

For more information on the candidates, please go to https://mascosuper.school.blog/2023/05/02/masconomet-high-school-principal-finalists-2/

Katie DiNardo’s Public Interview, May 16, 2023

Dan Hudder’s Public Interview, May 18, 2023

I am pleased to announce the two finalists for the position of Principal of Masconomet Regional High School.  Our search process began with the advertisement of the position on March 13, 2023, with a closing date of April 7, 2023.  Semi-finalists were invited to Masconomet for interviews on April 25^th and 27^th.  At the end of these two days of interviews, the Interview Committee forwarded the names of two finalists for the position.  I would like to thank our Interview Committee, consisting of High School Junior Reagan Boyd, School Adjustment Counselor Kristen Duffy, Guidance Counselor Robin Wildman, Science Teacher Chris Love, Special Education Team Chair Marie Bridges, English Department Head Meagan Hildebrand, Director of Information Technology Vin Ruocco, High School Parents Jocelyn Almy-Testa and John Maynard, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Lynne Bennett, Middle School Principal Phil McManus, and School Committee Chair Tasha Cooper for giving their time and insight to this very important process.

Our next step in the High School Principal Search process will be to invite our two finalists for on-site interviews at Masconomet on May 16^th and May 18^th.  Both finalists will spend the day meeting with different constituent groups at the school and will complete the day with a question-and-answer session for parents and interested members of the public held at 7:00 PM via Zoom.  Everyone who meets with the candidates will be invited to submit written feedback that I will use to help inform my decision in selecting our next High School Principal.  I hope to be able to announce our next principal by the beginning of June with an anticipated start date of July 1^st.

The finalists are:

Katie DiNardo has served as the Upper House Assistant Principal at Masconomet since July of 2012.  In this role, she chairs Student Support Team Meetings and collaborates with adjustment and guidance counselors to assist students in Grades 11 and 12 who are at risk, oversees student attendance and discipline for Grades 11 and 12, and supports the High School Principal in the daily operation of the school.  Katie is also currently the Coordinator of Masconomet’s Student Internship Program.  Prior to coming to Masconomet, Katie was an Assistant Principal in Gloucester and Watertown High Schools.  She began her career in public education as a Guidance Counselor at Watertown High School.  Katie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from The College of Wooster, a Master’s Degree in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in School Administration from Cambridge College.  She also has completed a Certificate of School Management and Leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and Business School.  Her full resume can be viewed here.  Katie’s onsite interview will be on May 16^th.  Her public interview will be conducted that evening via Zoom at 7:00 PM at the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86757950054?pwd=dGN4K2QrMk5ack5OdGh0Zm9TL3k3QT09

Daniel Hudder is currently an Assistant Principal at Bedford High School in Bedford, MA, a position he has held since July of 2018.  In this role, Dan is responsible for a monitoring the progress and overseeing interventions for a caseload of 425 students, working with building administration to co-lead professional development, and working with Department Heads to supervise faculty and develop curriculum.  Prior to his work in Bedford, Dan was the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School in Framingham, MA, and the English Department Head at Franklin High School in Franklin, MA.  Prior to becoming an administrator, Dan taught English at Needham High School in Needham, MA and at The William J. Gaynor School and Stuyvesant High School in New York City.  Dan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from New York University, a Master’s Degree in American Studies from The University of Massachusetts at Boston, and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from Endicott College.  His full resume can be viewed here.  Dan will be visiting Masconomet on May 18^th.  His public interview will be conducted via Zoom at 7:00 PM that evening at the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89404767912?pwd=OUI1NEU0UGJjTXQ4RjFpZm1aTmEwUT09

Dear Masconomet Community,

On March 15, 2023 the Masconomet Regional School Committee adopted its budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), which will cover the 2023-2024 school year.  For FY24, the Total Expenditures Budget for the District totals $40,206,736, which is an increase of $1,839,604 or 4.8% over the current fiscal year (FY23).  After accounting for $7,820,471 in Federal, State and Local funding to be put towards the Masconomet FY24 Budget, $32,386,265 remains to be apportioned to our three member towns.  Boxford’s total assessment for Masconomet’s FY24 Budget is $12,085,026, an increase of $1,136,773 or 10.4% over FY23.  Middleton’s total assessment of $11,046,622 is an increase of $740,725, or 7% over the current year.  Topsfield’s total assessment is $9,254,617, an increase of $621,660 or 8.3% over the current year. 

The District’s Total Expenditures Budget is composed of two components, the Operating Budget, which typically are the funds required to continue the daily operations of the schools, such as salaries, textbooks, supplies, and ordinary repairs and the Capital Budget, which would include the funding for items such as purchasing of real estate, designing and constructing facilities, including plans and architect’s fees, completing extraordinary repairs, and purchasing the furnishings associated with these types of projects.  The Capital Budget would also include payments on any debt the District may take on in completing these capital projects.  In order for Masconomet’s FY24 Total Expenditures Budget to “pass,” the full amounts included in the Operating and Capital Budgets must both be approved by Annual Town Meeting in two of our three member communities.  The details of Masconomet’s FY24 Operating and Capital Budgets are explained in the paragraphs below.

For FY24, Masconomet’s Operating Expense Budget (after Offsets) is $39,757,686, which is an increase of $2,183,304 (5.8%) over FY23.  There are several components of the Operating Budget that are driving this increase, many of which are outside of the District’s direct control.  In October of 2022, the Massachusetts Operational Services Division, the state office responsible for setting tuition rates in private schools that serve students with severe special needs, or “out-of-district placements,” approved a 14% tuition increase for these schools for FY24.  To put this into perspective, these rates typically have increased around 2% per year.  This unprecedented increase, when coupled with an increase in the number of Masconomet students requiring education in an out-of-district placements, translated into an increase of $712,062 in Masconomet’s Budget.

Student transportation is another area where costs have increased significantly.  This year, Masconomet and the Tri-Town School Union put the contract for transporting students to and from school for the years 2023-2028 out to bid.  As has been the case with transportation services for school across Massachusetts for the past several years, only one company submitted a bid.  This bid submission outlined a 15% price increase in the first year of the contract.  As there is typically very little competition between transportation companies in Massachusetts for local contracts, we had no choice other than to accept this $177,294 increase.  Transportation services for students with special needs follows a similar pattern.  The budgeted increase in our transportation services for student with special needs for FY24 is $219,921 or 76.3% over current year.

The increases to the three areas of out-of-district tuitions, and regular and special education transportation total $1,109,277 or 50.8% of the total increase to the FY24 Operating Expense Budget.  As the services paid for in these areas of our operating budget are required by law, the only way to offset these increased would be to eliminate services in other areas.  Given the educational, and social-emotional needs of our students’ post-pandemic, the School Committee and District Administration do not recommend making cuts to other programs at this time.  This leaves us with no choice but to ask our members communities to support these increases to our Operating Budget.

Because the increases to the Masconomet Operating Expense Budget are larger than in prior years, they will likely require a Proposition 2 ½ Override in two of our three communities.  Boxford and Topsfield will therefore present the Masconomet Operating Budget in two parts at their respective Town Meetings.  One part will contain the amount that does not trigger the Proposition 2 ½ Override requirement.  The second part will contain the amount of the Masconomet Operating Budget that is in excess of the Proposition 2 ½ limit.  In order for the Masconomet Budget to be approved in a specific town, the full amount of the town’s share of the Masconomet Operating Budget will need to pass, along with the Capital Budget request.

Regarding Capital expenses, the FY24 Masconomet Budget includes $449,050, which is the funding necessary to complete the design and permitting of “Phase I” of Masconomet’s Turf Field Plan.  As is the case with Operating Expenses, the $449,050 in Capital Expenses will be apportioned to each of the three towns.  Boxford’s share of this amount is $167,451, Middleton’s share is $150,162 and Topsfield’s is $131,437.  At the current time, all three towns propose paying for this assessment through “free cash,” which means approval will have no impact in the tax rate. Phase I of the Turf Field Plan contemplates the construction of two multi-purpose artificial turf fields on the Masconomet Campus, including the landscaping, spectator seating, lighting and support buildings that go along with an athletic facility of this type.  A committed group of parents and community members have begun the process of soliciting private donors to fundraise for the construction of this project.  The $449,050 requested in the Masconomet FY24 Capital Budget will move the project through the required engineering studies to a final design and obtain the permits needed to proceed with construction from the Town of Boxford.  Supporting this $449,050 request will also send the message to potential donors to the project that our communities are committed to seeing it through to completion.  Masconomet has long prided itself for the prowess of its athletic teams.  Being able to continue this tradition requires that our student-athletes are able to practice and compete in facilities that have become the standard for our region.  More information on Masconomet’s Turf Field Project can be found on the Masconomet Website.

Masconomet’s FY24 Total Expenditures Budget represents the results of a five-month process of analysis, reflection, discussion and compromise among the constituents of the Masconomet Community.  The Masconomet Administration and School Committee feel this budget maintains the high-quality education that our communities have come to expect, while at the same time, respects the financial limitations of our taxpayers.  In this time where our students are still recovering from the effects of the global pandemic, it is of the upmost importance that we are able to maintain the services necessary to meet the needs of our students.  I am confident that the FY24 Masconomet Budget accomplishes this goal.

The next step in the process of approving Masconomet’s Budget is Annual Town Meeting, which will be held in Topsfield on May 2^nd at 7:00 PM at the Masconomet Auditorium, in Middleton on May 9^th at 7:00 PM at the Howe Manning School Gymnasium and in Boxford on May 9^th at 7:00 PM in the Masconomet Auditorium.  I urge you to attend you respective Town Meeting and support all of the articles that comprise the Masconomet FY24 Budget.  For more information regarding the details of Masconomet’s FY24 Budget, please visit the Masconomet Website.

Sincerely,

Michael M. Harvey, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Masconomet Participates in the Addressing Hate in Sports Initiative

On Friday and Saturday April 28 and 29, Athletic Director John Daileanes and I will be participating in the Addressing Hate in School Sports Training at UMASS Lowell.  The Addressing Hate in School Sports initiative was created as a joint initiative between the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Massachusetts School Administrators Association and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.  The training is based on our shared belief that school sports have the potential to build leadership and teamwork skills in our young people, foster diversity and inclusion, and bring communities together.  In December, approximately 450 school and athletic leaders from all across Massachusetts, including Masconomet, met at the Addressing Hate in School Sports Conference to learn best practices for building positive culture in school athletics and effectively addressing incidents of hate and bias.

The next phase of this initiative will allow school and athletic leaders to dive deeper and learn how to effectively apply best practices in their own districts through 13 Regional Trainings provided by the Northeastern Center for the Study of Sports in Society. 

Middle School Play This Weekend on Friday and Saturday

This weekend, Masconomet Middle School’s Drama Club will be performing Frozen, Jr.  Performances will be on Friday April 28 at 7:00 PM and on Saturday April 29 at 2:00 PM in the Masconomet Auditorium.   Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door.

Class of 2026 Walk on May 17th

Throughout the year, our Peer Leading program has focused not only on assisting the Freshman class in transitioning to high school but also on creating a sense of community. As a culminating experience, the Freshman class will be participating in the Freshman Walk, our annual 6-mile charity walk, on May 17, 2023. This year, all money raised through this fundraiser will be donated to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA).

If you are able to provide operational support (water station, donation of goods, etc) for the walk, please follow this link.

Masconomet Hosts Credit for Life Fair on May 23^rd

On May 23^rd, Masconomet will again host the Credit for Life Fair on May 23^rd.  The event will be attended by over 130 Masco juniors participating with over 800 area high school students.  In the Credit for Life Fair, students will simulate the life of a 25-year-old professional and navigate the many challenges that face young people in a quest to balance their budgets and live within their means.  Participants choose their professions, are assigned monthly take-home salaries and then navigate checkpoints to make “purchases” of necessities such as housing, transportation, clothing, and healthcare, utilizing imaginary cash, credit or savings.  There will be over 200 volunteers from the Institution from Savings in charge of these various checkpoints around the field house.  This is the seventh year that Masconomet has hosted the Credit for Life Fair and the 10^th year that we’ve participated.  Thanks to the members of our Business Department and Business and Digital Learning Department Head Ben Hodges for their work in organizing this event. 

High School Principal Search Update

The Principal Interview Committee is in the process of interviewing candidates this week.  I plan to announce the names of finalists by the beginning of next week.  Finalists will be invited to Masconomet for a series of public interviews during the week of May 15^th.  Part of the public interviews will entail an online session with parents and interested members of the public held in the evening via Zoom.  More information on these sessions will be sent out with the finalist announcement.

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Language Acquisition Audit

During the week of May 15, 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Masconomet Regional School District. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report. Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3561 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

Masconomet Students Honored in the 6^th Congressional District High School Visual Art Competition

The Masconomet Art Department is pleased to announce the Masconomet winning entries to the 2023 6^th Congressional District High School Visual Art Competition. 

From left to right:

Vanessa Basame (’23), “Letter Building”, Best of School Award

Jenna Lindsay (’24), “Leave a Mark”, Honorable Mention

Haley Serafino (’23), “Don’t Be Afraid of Color”, Honorable Mention

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.  Masconomet’s students submitted their entries to Congressman Seth Moulton’s Office and panels of local artists from the 6^th Congressional District selected the winning entries.

Masconomet Middle School Student Awarded National Silver Medal at Scholastic Art and Writing Competition

The Scholastic Art & Writing National Awards were recently announced and the Masconomet art department is proud to announce that Masconomet Middle School Student Bella Denis won a National Silver Medal this year for her sculpture, “Scorpion”.

Bella’s piece was selected by some of the foremost leaders in the visual arts for excellence in originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice. This year more than 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted to the 2023 Scholastic Awards and less than 1% of works received a National Medal! Gold and Silver Medal artwork will be published online at artandwriting.org in June.

Masconomet High School Student Wins National Silver Medal at Scholastic Art and Writing Competition

The Scholastic Art & Writing National Awards were recently announced and the Masconomet art department is proud to announce that Paige Panagos won a National Silver Medal this year for her oil pastel self-portrait, “Submerged”. 

Paige’s piece was selected by some of the foremost leaders in the visual arts for excellence in originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice. More than 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted to the 2023 Scholastic Awards and less than 1% of works received a National Medal! Gold and Silver Medal artwork will be published online at artandwriting.org in June.

Congratulations to the Cast, Crew and Advisors of Women and Wallace

Congratulations to the Cast, Crew and Advisors of Masconomet’s production of the one-act play Women and Wallace.  Our Theater Company progressed to the state finals of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s Drama Festival, where they performed their play on Saturday, April 1^st at the Back Bay Events Center in John Hancock Hall.  The following students were recognized by the festival’s judges:

• Quinn Tierney for Excellence in Acting Award which is also an All-Star Acting Member award
• Dorian Florestal and Aidan Venckus for Technical Excellence in Musical Composition and Performance
• Campbell Robinson for the role of Featured Dancer

Congratulations also to our Theater Director, Mr. Brian Pereira.  This is the first time that Masconomet has entered this competition on over 30 years.  Reaching the state finals on the first attempt is a remarkable feat.

D’Amato Wins National Press Club Journalism Institute Scholarship

Congratulations to Masconomet Senior Alexa D’Amato, who is the 2023 recipient of the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s Richard G. Zimmerman Journalism Scholarship. The National Press Club Journalism Institute’s  press release on Alexa’s Award is here. 

The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is named for a long-time National Press Club member who died in 2008 and endowed a scholarship in aid of high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in journalism.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

High School Principal Search Update

The posting for the position of Principal of Masconomet Regional High School closed on Friday, April 7^th.  There currently are 22 applicants for the position.  Resume screening will take place later this week and semi-finalists will be invited to interview at Masconomet during the week of April 24^th.  I am in the process of finalizing the members of the interview committee, which consists representatives from district administration, department heads, faculty, parents, school committee and a high school student.  The interview committee will narrow the pool down to two or three finalists, who will be invited to Masconomet for a series of public interviews during the week of May 1^st.  Part of the public interviews will entail an online session with parents and interested members of the public held in the evening via Zoom.  More information on these sessions will be sent out in late April.

Masconomet Hosts State Office of Public School Monitoring for Tiered Focused Monitoring Review

During the week of May 15, 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public-School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Masconomet Regional School District. The Office of Public-School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students. In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public-School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report.

During the onsite review, the Office of Public-School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations. Parents and other individuals may contact Jill Lange, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at gillian.e.lange@mass.gov to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements. Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.

Theater Club in METG Finals

Congratulations to Theater Advisor Brian Pereira and the cast and crew of Women and Wallace for being selected to compete in the Finals of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s High School Theater Festival.  Masconomet will perform Women and Wallace at 12:30 on Saturday, April 1^st at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston.  Tickets are available at https://www.ticketstage.com/  “Break a Leg,” Masconomet!

MCAS Testing in Middle and High Schools

Masconomet High School’s 10^th grade students began MCAS Testing this week.  The English Language Arts Tests were administered on Tuesday, March 28^th and Wednesday, March 29^th.  Students who were absent on these dates will be scheduled for make-up tests.  Grade 10 students will be taking the Mathematics Sections of the MCAS on May 16^th and May 17^th.  Ninth grade students will take the Science, Technology, Engineering MCAS on June 6^th and 7^th. 

Masconomet Middle School will begin MCAS Testing with the English Language Arts Test in Grade 7 on April 4^th and April 5^th.  The Middle School will be conducting MCAS testing for two days per week from the beginning of April through the third week in May.  Dr. McManus has posted the entire Middle School MCAS schedule in his blog at https://www.masconomet.org/Domain/9

Masconomet FY24 Budget Update

On March 15^th, the Masconomet School Committee adopted its Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Budget.  The Total Expenditures Budget for FY24 is $40,206,736, which is an increase of $1,839,604 (4.8%) over the current year.  Contracted increases in tuitions for students in out of district special education programs and associated transportation for these students, and transportation costs for regular education students are some of the primary drivers behind the District’s Operating Budget Increase.  The School Committee’s Adopted FY24 Total Expenditures Budget also includes $449,050 in Capital Costs to complete the design and permitting of “Phase I” of the District’s Turf Field Plan. 

The next step in the approval process for Masconomet’s FY24 Budget will be for the voters at Annual Town Meeting to approve the FY24 Budget.  Given the increases to the FY24 Budget, Proposition 2 ½ overrides to cover the cost of Masconomet’s FY24 Budget will likely be on the Warrant at Boxford and Topsfield Town Meeting.  In order for Masconomet’s FY24 Budget to be approved, both the Operating and Capital Budgets must be approved by two of our three member communities.  Annual Town Meeting will be held in Topsfield in the Masconomet Auditorium in Tuesday, May 2^nd.  Town Meeting in Boxford will be at Masconomet on Tuesday, May 16^th.  Middleton Town Meeting will be at Howe-Manning School on Tuesday, May 16^th.  Please come to your Town Meeting and support Masconomet’s FY24 Budget.

• For more information on Masconomet’s FY24 Budget, please go to https://www.masconomet.org/Page/913.
• For more information on Masconomet’s Turf Field Initiative, please go to: https://www.masconomet.org/Page/914

Masconomet Seniors Julia Graves and Stella Nagle Featured on PBS’ Student Reporting Labs

Congratulations to Masconomet Seniors Juila Graves and Stella Nagle for their video production, “How the Pandemic Brought My Family to the Table,” which was recently featured on PBS’ Student Reporting Labs. Thanks also go to MHS English Teacher Michelle Siden for advising Julia and Stella on this project and directing our Media Communication Classes, including Masconomet’s Morning Update. Julia and Stella’s project is below.

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Launches Behavioral Health Help Line

The State of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health has recently launched the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL).  The BHHL connects individuals and families to the full range of treatment services for mental health and substance use offered in Massachusetts, including outpatient, urgent, and immediate crisis care. The BHHL is staffed by trained clinicians and certified peer specialists to support every caller’s needs.  The BHHL is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone call and text at 833-773-2445, and online chat at masshelpline.com.

Gymnastics Wins Fourth Consecutive State Championship

Congratulations to our Gymnastics Team on winning their fourth consecutive MIAA Championship last Saturday, March 4^th, at Algonquin Regional High School.  The team came back from a full point deficit to win in the final rotation over NEC rival Danvers High School.  The final score for the state meet was 148.6 Masconomet to 148.15 Danvers.  Congratulations to Coach Alicia Gomes Miffitt on building a fantastic program and to the members of this year’s team for continuing a great tradition. 

Theater Team Advances in Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival

On Sunday March 5^th, Masconomet’s Theater Team presented the play Women and Wallace in the Preliminary Round of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) Festival at North Reading High School.  The Team placed in the top four of eight teams in their bracket, which qualified them to advance to the Semi-Final Round on March 18^th at St. John’s Prep.  This is the first time in over 30 years that Masconomet has had a team enter the METG competition.  Congratulations to Drama Teacher Brian Pereira and the entire cast and crew and “break a leg” in the next round.

The Theater Team will be performing Women and Wallace at Masconomet on Friday, March 10th at 7 pm in the auditorium.  Women and Wallace is a 40-minute play which centers around the character Wallace Kirkman, who endures a very tragic event at a young age which effects their relationship with women throughout their life. There is no charge to attend this performance. Because of the mature themes portrayed in the show, it is not recommended for young audience members. Specifically, this show contains mature themes of trauma (suicidal ideation, resiliency). 

Graphic Novel Author Visits Masconomet Middle School

Graphic novelist Nathan Hale will be visiting with Masconomet Middle School students on March 10. He will hold one assembly for each grade with a book signing in between the presentations. Hale is the author of the award-winning Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, a series of stories from American history presented in graphic novel form.  For more information about this popular young adult author, please check out his website.

Dr. Henry Turner Speaks to Middle and High School Students on March 13^th

Dr. Henry Turner the co-author of Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Anti-Racist Culture in Your School will be speaking with our Middle and High School students on the morning of Monday, March 13th. Dr. Turner is the Principal of Newton North High School and met with our school leadership team this summer to help us with our work in creating a more inclusive community.

High School Principal Search Process

On Monday, March 6^th, I accepted Dr. Carabatsos’ resignation from the position of Masconomet High School Principal.  She will be leaving her position at the conclusion of the school year in June.  I want to thank Dr. Carabatsos for her service to the entire Masconomet community over the past two years and wish her the best as she continues her career.

I’ve developed a timeline to conduct a search for the next principal of Masconomet.  The position will be advertised beginning on Monday, March 13^th with applications due by April 7^th.  I anticipate making an offer to a preferred candidate during the week of May 8^th.  I will contact the community with dates for community input into the search process, such as public interviews of candidates, when they are confirmed.

Upcoming School Events:

High School

• March 23– HS Spring Band Concert
• March 24– Senior Prom
• March 28– HS spring Choral Concert
• April 4– Quarter 3 Ends

Middle School

• March 14– Trimester 2 Ends
• April 4– Grade 7 ELA MCAS Session 1
• April 6– Grade 7 ELA MCAS Session 2

Masconomet High School Students Recognized in 2023 Scholastic Art Awards

Art Department Head Stacy Mannheim is proud to report that the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Regional Awards were recently announced and Masconomet High School received the second largest number of awards of all public high school art programs in the state. Our students received a total of 52 awards (12 Gold Keys, 21 Silver Keys, and 19 Honorable Mentions). Congratulations to all of the talented and hard-working award winners, participants, and their art teachers as well!

This year there were 7,363 entries from students grades 7 through 12 from across Massachusetts. There will be an in-person exhibit and awards ceremony for Gold and Silver Key recipients on March 18^th on the Tufts University campus. More information to come. Additionally, all Massachusetts Gold Key awards advance to the National Competition and results will be announced towards the end of March.

Some Gold Key artwork from left to right: Paige Panagos, “Submerged”, Jessica Villarreal-Reyes, “Wave Platter”, and Megan Brady, “Imprints”

Masconomet Middle School Students Recognized in 2023 Scholastic Art Awards

Art Department Head is proud to announce that Masconomet Middle School once again achieved excellent results in the 2023 Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards!  Masconomet Middle School students had a total of 24 awards (4 Gold Keys, 9 Silver Keys, 11 Honorable Mentions), which is more than any other public middle school program in the state! Congratulations to the award winners, all the students who participated in this competition, and our art faculty, Ms. Amsler and Mrs. Malinowski.

This year there were 7,363 entries from students grades 7 through 12 from across Massachusetts. There will be an in-person exhibit and awards ceremony for Gold and Silver Key recipients on March 18^th on the Tufts University campus. More information to come. Gold Key winning work is currently being reviewed on a national level and results will be announced in late March.

Gold Key work clockwise from top right: Bella Denis, “Scorpion”, Kiera Macauley, “Broken Stained Glass”, Caleb Aitchison, “Blue Dragon Eye” and Ada Eisenberg, “Radial Rhythms”

MHS Students at Boston Model UN Conference

After a two-year hiatus from overnight conferences, the Masconomet High School Model United Nations team put their skills to the test at BosMUN, a premier three-day simulation of the United Nations organized by the Boston University International Affairs Association. Thirteen Masco students, led by Head Delegates Henry Liu, Tess Thattacherry, and Meghan Burr, enthusiastically joined thousands of other high school students from around the world in Parliamentary style debate and collaboration, with the goal of resolving some of the world’s most challenging issues.  Thanks to club advisors Ms. Greeley and Mr. Magner for their work in supporting our students.  For photos from the conference, please go to: https://sites.google.com/site/masconometmodelun/photos

Response to Rise in Hoax School Threats

We’ve been monitoring the rise in “Swatting” incidents targeting local public schools in MA and across the country over the past few days. In these swatting incidents, a caller contacts the local police department alleging there is a threat on school property, prompting a response from the emergency responders and the school to be placed in lockdown. After investigation, it these calls have been determined to be a hoax and there is no danger to the school community. This week several of our neighboring schools have been targeted, including Haverhill, Amesbury, and Ipswich High Schools. The caller in each incident provided the same information. 

We take every threat seriously. We have been in contact with the Boxford Police Department to develop a plan if Masconomet is targeted with one of these calls. If a call is received by the police department, the School Resource Officer and the school will be contacted and out of the abundance of caution, the school will be placed in lockdown. Emergency personnel will be deployed to the school. In the event the threat is cleared as a hoax, the school lockdown will be lifted, and school will resume. At that time, a message will also be sent to the school community providing information about the occurrence. 

Out of an abundance of caution, we have also arranged for an additional uniformed officer to patrol the exterior of our campus through the end of the school day Friday, February 17th.

Upcoming School Committee Budget Meetings

-February 27, Budget Subcommittee Meeting with Department Heads, 5:00 PM -March 1, School Committee Budget Public Hearing and Regular Meeting, 7:00 PM -March 6, School Committee Budget Deliberation, 7:00 PM (If Necessary) -March 8, School Committee Budget Deliberation, 7:00 PM -March 15, School Committee Budget Vote, 7:00 PM

Upcoming School Events:

High School	Middle School
February 16, HS Jazz Band Concert, 7 PMFebruary 18-26, Winter Break	February 13-17, Middle School Spirit WeekFebruary 18-26, Winter BreakMarch 14, Trimester 2 Ends

For a full listing of School Events, please see the Masconomet Website.

Strategic Plan Update

Our Strategic Planning Working Group will be meeting for the fourth time on February 14^th.  For the past two weeks, the Working Group has been conducting a survey of the Communities of Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield and will be reviewing the results of this survey in a future meeting.  The survey link was distributed to Masconomet families through my January 18^th Report, and Principals’ Newsletters. Faculty were provided with time to take the survey during their regular faculty meetings earlier this week, and students are being asked to participate in the survey during their M-Blocks in both the Middle and High Schools.

Pilot Schedule Review Committee Update

Our Pilot Schedule Review Committee will hold its next meeting on February 3^rd.  We are continuing to review the responses from the faculty and student survey and looking at potential changes to the schedule for next fall.  The Committee plans on communicating any changes to the schedule for the fall by the end of February.  The general feedback to the schedule has been very positive, so the changes the Review Committee is contemplating are relatively minor. 

Tri-Town Council Community Conversation on 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data

Congratulations and “Thank You” to the Tri-Town Council for presenting last Thursday’s Community Conversation on the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Results.  Participants experienced an excellent presentation of the key findings of the YRBS by a group of Masconomet students and were asked to engage in discussion and provide feedback on how these issues could best be addressed through community-wide action.  Anyone who’s interested in reviewing the findings of the 2021 YRBS can find them in the materials from the October 12, 2022 School Committee Meeting.

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee Hosts Bystander Training

On Monday, January 30 I attended the Tri-Town/Masconomet Special Education Parent Advisory Committee’s training for bystanders of acts of violence or hatred.  The training provided great information on why people do not get involved when they are witnesses to acts of hatred or violence and strategies people can employ when they are faced with these situations.  I want to thank the SEPAC leadership for bringing this training to Masconomet.

Masconomet Featured in Boston Globe Article on Holocaust Education Grants

Masconomet was prominently featured in an article in the “Globe Local” section of the January 27^th edition of the Boston Globe on the awarding of Genocide Education Grants.  Masconomet was recently awarded $20,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to “work with Salem State University to train educators on the implementation of genocide curriculum materials, content knowledge, and teaching strategies.”  Additionally, Masconomet will use the funds to add to our collection of Holocaust resource materials and to provide student learning experiences centered on the Holocaust and genocide.

Upcoming School Events:

High School	Middle School
-February 16, HS Jazz Band Concert, 7 PM -February 18-26, Winter Break	-February 14, MS Jazz Band Concert, 7 PM -February 13-17, Middle School Spirit Week -February 18-26, Winter Break March 14, Trimester 2 Ends

For a full listing of School Events, please see the Masconomet Website.

FY24 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget Presentation

On January 18^th, Assistant Superintendent Jeff Sands and I presented the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Superintendent’s Recommended Budget to the School Committee.  The Superintendent’s Recommended Budget represents a “Level Service” budget, or the funding required to continue all current positions, services and programs in the District.  The General Operating Expense (after Offsets) Budget for FY24 totals $40,155,113, which is an increase of $2,580,731 or 6.9% over the current year.  Some of the major drivers behind the level service increase include increases of $712,062 in Out-of-District Special Education Tuitions, which is 24.4% over the current year, $660,577 in contracted salary increases, which is 2.9% over the current year, an increase of $340,847 in insurance benefits, which is 7.1% over the current year, an increase of $219,921 for special education transportation services, which is an increase of 76.3% over current, and an increase of $177,294 to regular education transportation, which is 15.3% over the current year.  Over the next two months, the School Committee will hear presentations on various aspects of the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget, and deliberate to shape this recommendation in order to adopt a School Committee’s Recommended Budget on March 15, 2023.  All FY24 documents, including a calendar of scheduled meetings can be found at: https://www.masconomet.org/Page/913

Strategic Plan Update and Community Survey

Masconomet’s Strategic Plan Working Team has met three times since the launch of the Strategic Planning Initiative.  Discussions to date have focused on getting to know each other and better understanding our communication and planning tendencies. More recently we have begun discussing Masconomet’s student and professional culture, student expectations and stakeholder collaboration and communications.

Through these discussions, we’ve developed a survey for all community and school stakeholders to weigh in on four driving questions:

1. What should every student know and be able to demonstrate by graduation?
2. What are the qualities most important to a thriving professional and school culture?
3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Masconomet’s programming and policies as we build a plan for the next 3-5 years?
4. What requests do community members have for the planning process?

All community members, Masconomet staff and faculty, and students
are invited to share their perspectives and ideas to the Working Team.

To complete the survey please go to:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MasconometPlanningSurvey.

Tri-Town Council Community Conversation

The Tri-Town Council’s Coalition and Youth Action Advisory Board (YAAB) invite you to attend a “Community Conversation” on Thursday, January 26 from 7 – 9PM in the Masconomet cafeteria. Our Youth Action Advisory Board leaders will be presenting results from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered at Masconomet Middle and High School in November of 2021.  This national survey instrument created by the CDC, administered biennially since 2010, measures youth risk and protective factors, perceptions, attitudes and resistance strategies. After the data presentation, youth leaders and coalition volunteers will be facilitating table conversations with small groups about the info highlighted in the presentation.

Masconomet High School Hosts Successful 8^th Grade Open House

Congratulations to Dr. Carabatsos and the faculty and administration at Masconomet High School for hosting a successful 8^th grade Open House on January 12^th.  The evening began in the Auditorium with an overview of the academic and operational aspects of the high school followed by brief remarks from current Masconomet students. Families then had the opportunity to attend brief presentations highlighting different aspects of Masconomet’s curriculum and program offerings, and attend a student-run athletics, sports and activities fair.  Ninety-five families of prospective 9^th grade students were able to attend this event and learn about the great things that are happening at Masconomet High School.  Dr. Carabatsos plans on making the open house an annual event to showcase the wealth of programs and talent at Masconomet High School.

School Breakfast Program Resumes

The Masconomet Regional School District Food Service Team is pleased to announce that it began offering daily breakfast service on Monday, January 9, 2023.  Breakfast will be offered daily from 7:00 – 7:30 AM as part of the universal free school meals program and will consist of a variety of options including yogurt parfaits, whole grain cereals, oatmeal, whole grain muffins, whole grain bagels, fresh fruit, fruit juices, and milk. All students are eligible to receive one free breakfast per day as long as it meets USDA reimbursable breakfast guidelines which include a selection of at least three of the four main food options, one of which must be a fruit or fruit juice. Breakfasts that do not meet these guidelines will not qualify as free and will be subject to a la carte pricing. For students who take advantage of the breakfast program, please note that breakfast must be eaten in the cafeteria and will not be permitted in classrooms or other areas on campus.