WPS School Committee Announces Finalists in Superintendent Search
The Winchendon Public Schools School Committee announced three finalists for the permanent position of Superintendant of Schools at their Wednesday, December 1 meeting. Current Interim Superintendent Thad King is also under consideration while serving in a one-year district contract.
School Committee Chair Larry Murphy began with offering thanks to the members of the Superintendent Search Committee, who he said interviewed a total of ten applicants. Murphy also extended thanks to Tracy Novick, Field Director and Superintendent Search Consultant of the Mass Association of School Committees, who has served in that capacity since 2016, and who was joining the meeting on an audio call. Murphy said that Novick "was very helpful in guiding us in finding the right questions to ask, and organize the whole interview process". Murphy went on to thank no less than eight individuals representing the Central Office, Principals, Teachers, Para-professionals, a MHS Student, and a community member.
As of November 15, Murphy said, the Search Committee met in Executive Session for the purpose of deliberation to select six semifinalists, with those applicants being interviewed on November 17, 18, and 19. On November 19, the committee unanimously voted to move forward with a final slate of selections.
The finalists announced for the next contracted Superintendent of the Winchendon Public Schools are,
- Dr. Mark Branco, Assistant Superintendent for the Tyngsboro, MA Public Schools.
- Dr. Kimberly Roberts-Morandi, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, for the North Adams, MA Public Schools.
- Thaddeus King, current Interim Superintendent, of the Winchendon Public School District.
After a short discussion, committee members Lawrence Murphy, Greg Vine, Karen Kast, and Ryan Forsythe agreed to conducting all three finalist candidate interviews, and making the final Superintendent of Schools selection announcement on Tuesday, December 14. Based on that date, Novick advised committee members to look at their availability during the prior days to schedule their district site tours for the finalist candidates as they would have be completed before December 14, so she could set things up accordingly.
Due to the School Committee currently being down one member, Novick advised the group that in accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting law, only two committee members at a time could visit any particular school's site tour together so as not to constitute a quorum, and the committee members also could not discuss what their questions would be among themselves, outside of a public meeting.
Discussing dates, Murphy clarified he could attend on the days of December 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13. Greg Vine said he had open dates of December 6, 9, 10, and 13. Karen Kast explained that due to her schedule, the only days she could confirm would be Thursdays and Fridays, leaving December 2, 3, 9, and 10 as she explained other dates while not ruled out may not work for her. Lastly, member Ryan Forsythe added he could confirm availability on the dates of December 7, 9, and 13.
Kast advised fellow school committee members that based on past parental input, she would like to see potentially considered meet-and-greet time slots created which were more conducive for students' parents' and guardians' availability to attend who have to work. Novick said she agreed it was important, with Murphy agreeing but also saying he didn't want to make it too late as one of the finalist candidates will be traveling to and from the North Adams, MA area.
Regarding the upcoming visitations, Murphy also said, "The reason why we will be attending the districts during the day, is so we can see the schools in their districts while they are open, people working, and so the districts can arrange for some people to talk to us as well. Vine asked if during the site visits committee members will be able to talk to any students. Novick replied, "That is part of what I recommend. Two of the things I say are most important things are to make sure you talk to your fellow school committee members to get their parallel perspective, staff, and to talk to students as their perspective is also important."
In closing comments, School Committee members all again thanked the members of the Search Committee, the applicants, and the public for their interest in the process. Murphy said, "I am excited that we have three such good solid candidates, and on December 14 we will all have our new leader at the helm." The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Mount Wachusett Community College Awarded 2021 Activation Fund Grant for Dental Clinic Enhancements
Gardner, MA - November 23, 2021 - Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) will utilize the $73,903 Activation Fund grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts at its Dental Clinic to enhance its sterilization center. This enhancement will allow MWCC to improve training for dental hygiene and dental assistant students in state-of-the art sterilization and infection control procedures and processes.
The grant will enable MWCC's Dental Education program to expand its offerings into new certification and continuing education programming in the area of Infection Control and Safety in the Dental Setting. Additionally, the grant enables MWCC to host the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School Dental Assisting program students in the clinical setting.
Community Health Connections has partnered with MWCC's Dental Education program since its inception, playing a key role in the programs founding in 2005 through its support of the Oral Health Initiative of North Central Massachusetts, a Round 1 Synergy Initiative project also funded through The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. The clinic is co-located with CHC Community Health Center on Nichols Road in Fitchburg, enabling students to learn alongside CHC dentists. Since the program's founding, 257 dental hygiene and assisting graduates have entered the dental workforce and over 9,000 patients have been served by students in MWCC's Dental Education Clinic.
"The partnership between MWCC and Community Health Connections has and will continue to have an impact on oral health in Central Massachusetts and across the Commonwealth," stated Cindy Cadoret, Director of Dental Education Programs at MWCC.
The Elves Return to Help Sizer School Families
Sometimes a holiday wish is more than a new bike or a cell phone upgrade. Sometimes a holiday wish can be food on the table, or a jacket that fits.
At Sizer School, a North Central Charter Essential School, the Sizer Elves is a longstanding tradition that has evolved over the years in response to both the needs within the Sizer community and the generosity of Sizer's many outside supporters.
"Last year, we were able to sponsor gifts for over 50 students and siblings," said Jenna Lavery Quigley, Sizer Elves Coordinator. "We try to help as many families as we can."
Sizer School serves as many as 400 students a year from 25 local communities including Ashburnham, Westminster, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Lunenburg, Bolton, Stow, Lancaster, Pepperell, Ashby, Townsend, Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling. Based on its mission to know each student personally, Sizer also works hard to fill the needs of each student not only in the classroom, but also at home.
"A student isn't going to come up to you and say, 'I don't have a winter coat because my family can't afford it' or 'I can't wait for lunch because we didn't have enough food for dinner last night.' What you see instead is a brave face who 'isn't bothered by the cold' or 'doesn't like coats' or you see a student pocketing his or her daily snack for later," said Communication & Recruitment Coordinator Lindsay Sauvageau. "This is why we have a food pantry and programs like the Sizer Elves. Because a student that is focused on trying to meet basic personal needs is not always capable of focusing on academic needs. So as a school, we want to support both."
A list of Sizer School families in need is created throughout the year by referral and through sign ups. Their needs are then transferred to the Sizer Elves. Anyone wishing to participate as an Elf purchases what they can for these students and/or families. All family and student information is kept strictly confidential and not given out to the community.
If you would like to make a donation to the Sizer Elves program, contact Lavery-Quigley at laveryquigleyj@sizerschool.org or (978) 345-2701 Ext. 425 by December 17th.
Sizer School, a North Central Charter Essential School, is a free public charter school located at 500 Rindge Road in Fitchburg To find out more, visit www.sizerschool.org. Applications are now being accepted for the 2022-2023 school year. Visit https://tinyurl.com/SizerSchool to apply.