School Officials Kick Off Year With Eye On Goals

Dr. Thomas Jefferson, the Lynnfield school district’s new superintendent, joined school committee members this week to discuss goals and policy changes for the coming year.  

At the meeting, committee members reviewed a draft of goals they developed at a workshop earlier in the summer. 

School administrators would like to offer an online grading format, implement technology updates in curriculum instruction, publish a monthly superintendent newsletter that would be included with the school newsletter, and continue to address the school busing policy.

When the committee discussed budgeting and financial goals, member Michael Craffey argued that the district’s payroll method is inefficient and that the district’s paper method could be improved. 

Jefferson spoke about his vision for the school year and district events taking place in the fall - including Make a Difference Day, which is set for the fourth Saturday in October.  To mark the day, the superintendent said he would like the district to coordinate a collection of clothes and other materials among all five of its public schools. 

Jefferson also reminded the committee about the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation visit, which will begin on Sunday, November 13, 2011.  NEASC does a ten year accreditation review of schools. “A group of about ten people will come and they’ll be here for three days,” Jefferson explained.  The NEASC reviewers will meet with students, teachers, school committee members, and the superintendent.   

Parent Cites Decline In Band Participation

Later in the meeting, Lynnfield parent Debby Dunphy addressed the committee regarding the district’s music program.  Dunphy asked the committee to establish a study of the system-wide instrumental program. 

“The numbers in the Lynnfield High School concert band are shrinking,” Dunphy said, adding that students receive academic credit for participating in the concert band. 

Dunphy also noted that instrumental instruction begins in the fall of fifth grade for Lynnfield elementary students.  By the end of the fifth grade, students perform in the spring band.  “Over the past several years, despite the fact that the total middle school population is increasing, the number of student musicians participating in the fifth grade band by the time of the spring concert has decreased,” she said.

“My primary concern is about the kids,” the concerned parent said.  Jefferson added that he was eager to learn more about Dunphy’s assessment of the district’s music program.  “We look forward to dialogue and learning more about this issue,” the Superintendent said.

New Food Service Director Introduced

Jefferson introduced Jim McCarthy as the new food service director of the .  Over 100 people applied for the position of food service director.  “We really set a pretty high bar for this job,” Jefferson said.  Prior to starting as the food service director for Lynnfield schools, McCarthy was the assistant food service manager at Northeast Regional Vocational School in Wakefield.

“I really think I can bring something different to the position,” McCarthy said. “My background is mainly corporate, in restaurants and hotels and some fine dining; and recently I went into the schools.” 

The next School Committee meeting will be held on September 20, 2011 at the at 7p.m.