District Regionalization Recorded March 2, 2011 Butterfield Elementary School
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Hiring Timeline
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Search Committee
Presentation to the Swift River School Committee – February 3, 2011
Consolidation Update for Orange Community Meeting 03-02-11
Introduction:
Made effective by the votes of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Committee, Petersham Elementary School Committee and the Orange Elementary School Committee the centralization of the aforementioned school district central offices is scheduled to commence on July 1, 2011.
Below are frequently asked questions about Central Office Consolidation and a field in which new questions may be submitted.
Is it true that some consolidation has already taken place?
Yes.
Special Education Administration Consolidation
Made effective by the votes of the Petersham, Orange, and Ralph C. Mahar School Committees the three districts are currently working within the same Special Education Administration. This merger consolidated all three special education departments under one Special Education Administrator. It is now common practice for the three school districts to share special education staff and meet for the purposes of program development from Pre-K – Grade 12. It is also commonplace for the districts to share expertise, duties, costs, all while providing a model for future consolidation.
National Institute for School Leadership
Currently, the principals from Petersham Center School, Fisher Hill Elementary School, the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School and Superintendents Martin and Baldassarre are attending the Pionner Valley National Institute of School Leadership together. In conjunction with the Pioneer Valley Department of Elementary and Secondary Education District and School Assistance Center, these administrators are working as a team in the development of common language, goals, and objectives for educational improvement from Pre K – Grade 12.
Response to Intervention
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a three tiered model for providing students with real time interventions in their classrooms at all levels. Professional development is already underway for the development of a full Pre-K – Grade 12 RTI model. Compelling evidence shows that Response to Intervention among the best instructional delivery systems for giving every student the additional time and support needed to learn at high levels.
Health Insurance
Although not completely consolidated the beginning steps for a merger in the area of Employee Health Insurance have taken place. Effective January 1, 2011 employees in the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District and Employees in the Orange Elementary Schools (as well as the Town of Orange) are both members of the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Agency. This paves the way for consideration of a future merger, which at the very least will save administrative costs.
Why should we consolidate our school districts’ central offices?
Declining Resources and Increasing Enrollment
Number of Orange Elementary School Teachers 2003: 93
Number of Orange Elementary School Teachers 2010: 66
A decrease of 27 full time teachers
Number of Orange Elementary Extra Support Personnel 2003: 87
Number of Orange Elementary Extra Support Personnel 2010: 72
A decrease of 15 full time support personnel
Number of Orange Elementary Students 2003: 798
Number of Orange Elementary Students 2010: 840
An increase of 42 students
The information above can be associated with declines in student achievement. Increasing class sizes while removing layers of support from the students who are in most need is certain to create stress in the educational organization from the central office all the way to the classroom.
Replication of Duties
Irrespective of district size or location, each Massachusetts School Superintendent is required to oversee the completion of each item on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 2010 – 2011 Superintendents Checklist (http://www.doe.mass.edu/mailings/checklist.pdf). This document provides readers with a snapshot of the complexities of Central Office Administration. Day to day activities such weather related decisions, entitlement grant application and follow up deadlines, and attendance at meetings associated with education and resources in the region are also attended by all three superintendents.
The Problem with Additional Duties
In order to provide our towns with quality education and service in times of declining resource, central office administrators have taken on increasing workloads. In Orange the Superintendent of Schools is known to function not only as the chief educational leader, but also as the district’s business administrator, and at times the chief technician to oversee building maintenance and repair. During the 2009 – 2010 school year, the superintendent of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District was both the Superintendent and the Special Education Director. And in the Petersham Elementary District, the superintendent is the sole central office administrator – required to perform all central office functions. Because of this the school principal has taken on roles such as Special Education Administrator.
Will schools close as a result of Central Office Consolidation?
No. Central office consolidation has never involved the closing of any schools. The result is less money spent on administration and administrative tasks and more money committed to our schools and classrooms.
Please contact Superintendent Michael Baldassarre if you have any questions: