WILMINGTON, MA — Here are TEN things that happened at the Wilmington School Meeting on Wednesday, February 10 at 7pm-ish at Wilmington High:
#1) The Wilmington School Committee showed strong support for the school district’s 4-year plan to roll out a 1:1 Google Chromebook program (1 Chromebook for every 1 student) at the Wilmington Middle School and Wilmington High School. Learn more HERE.
#2) No parent, taxpayer, or member of the public attended the meeting’s Public Hearing to offer comment or ask a question about the school district’s proposed FY17 budget. After the hearing was closed, the School Committee unanimously approved the budget with little discussion. (A great deal of discussion had taken place at prior meetings). Chairwoman Peggy Kane attributed the fact that no one attended the Public Hearing as a sign that most residents approve of the school district and its budget proposal. “You’ve made [the budget process] so transparent, and given so many opportunities for people to listen and hear about the budget and get their questions answered, it’s a compliment to you and the staff,” Kane told DeLai.
#3) The School Committee unanimously approved new or updated policies on Social Media (Policy IJNDD), Alcohol and Drug Use and Possession (Policy JICH), Chemical Health Regulations (Policy JICH-R), No Smoking and Tobacco Use (Policy ADC-E), and Tobacco Possession and Use (Policy JIGC). Some of the policies consisted of changes that were housekeeping or minor in nature. Perhaps the biggest policy change involved in the Chemical Health Regulations, which Wilmington Apple previously highlighted HERE.
#4) Chairwoman Peggy Kane read a letter signed by the School Committee, after Superintendent DeLai presented a mid-cycle review of her goals for the school year. The letter read:
Dear Superintendent DeLai,
Once again, you’ve demonstrated to the community the qualities based upon which the School Committee hired you to lead our School System. You did an outstanding job last year in your entry plan to explore the state of the school system. You promised your constituents that you would investigate their concerns and act upon them. You have spent the bulk of your second year doing just that.
As part of your findings, concerns over voting places emerged. Your proceeded to contact town officials involved and brought the new idea forward. You met your obligation to bring forth the concerns that you encountered and you did so in such a professional and factual manner. Your solution considered your best assessment to the benefit of all our students as well as the community of voters. The majority of Selectmen were attentive to your concerns and open to thinking about them and discussing them with you. Although they were not in agreement with your conclusions at this time. Unfortunately, one member personalized the exchange and in such a way that could be considered disrespectful. You handled the situation with grace. In addition, at its conclusion, ever the educational leader, you outlined what you learned from the experience.
Please be assured that your professionalism and caring manner is noted by both the School Committee and the Community. Thank you for your graciousness and for your ability to maintain professional as you walk through our school issues. We appreciate how well things are going.
#5) The School Committee approved the 2016-2017 school year calendar, which can be seen HERE.
#6) The School Committee received a FY17 quarterly financial report from Director of Administration and Fiance Paul Ruggiero. Members had no questions.
#7) The School Committee accepted an anonymous donation in the amount of $1,760 to send 22 Wilmington staff members to the Federation for Children with Special Needs’ Annual “Visions of Community” Conference in Boston.
#8) Superintendent Mary DeLai congratulated the 12 Wilmington High School students who received Massachusetts Scholastic Art & Writing Award honors. Find the list HERE.
#9) School Committee’s student representative Dina Singh gave a brief update, highlighting several activities happening at Wilmington High. The Local Heroes Club, for example, recently conducted a ‘Teddy-Gram” fundraiser where proceeds went to send teddy bears to soldiers overseas. Singh also noted that the WHS Girls Winter Track Team made history by winning their first ever Middlesex League Championship last week.
#10) School Committee member Julie Broussard plugged the Wilmington Educational Foundation’s upcoming Adult Team Spelling Bee Fundraiser. Learn more about the event HERE.
NOTES: School Committee members Manny Mulas and MJ Byrnes were absent from the meeting. ** The School Committee next meets on Wednesday, February 24 at 7pm at Wilmington High School (Large Instruction Room).
Watch the School Committee Meeting, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, below:
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