Superintendent’s Bulletin: 9/6/19

Dear Colleagues,

I hope everyone had a restful Labor Day weekend and a productive week.  Last night at Sprague, we began a series of community meetings to update parents about the status, timeline, and potential impact of our two elementary school building projects.  Click here for the handout provided at these meetings.  In particular, we want to highlight the “internal swing space” option we have been working on to build a new school at the Hunnewell site as soon as possible.  (Note: Due to the size and constraints of the Hunnewell site, we do not have the ability to build on that site while occupying the current school, thus the need for a swing space option while construction occurs.) In this option, our other elementary schools would host 1-2 Hunnewell grade levels for the 1.5-2 years required to build a new school.  Our continued declining enrollment at the elementary level makes this model feasible.  Over the past ten years, we have declined by nearly 400 students.  This year alone, we declined by 86 students from SY2018-19; a trend that is forecasted to continue into the future. The following tables show the grade levels 

and student enrollment at each potential host school during the years (SY21-22 / SY22-23) of the proposed early Hunnewell project.  Due to space challenges, enrollments, and special programs in place at Schofield and Upham, at this point our proposal is to avoid using those schools as host schools during the project.

It goes without saying that this model will require a great deal of flexibility and coordination to be successful.  Once again, I thank the Hunnewell staff for their willingness to implement this model as they will be moving several times throughout the project.  Ultimately, we will need to pull together to make this work.  The result, however, is one that I think is well worth our effort, because we will be bringing a new elementary school online for our students and staff three full years sooner than if we wait until the conclusion of the Hardy/Upham project.

Thanks to everyone for your work across our district and I hope you have a great weekend.         

Best regards, 
David

Calendar
09/17/19 – School Committee Meeting – Town Hall –  6:30 pm
09/30/19 – Rosh Hashanah – No School
10/1/19 – School Committee Meeting – Town Hall –  6:30 pm
10/9/19 – Yom Kippur – No School
    

Baby News!!!
Congratulations to:
Jacqui Martel (Bates Art Teacher) on the birth of her son, August Robert Colcord, on August 26, 2019
 

Condolences to: 
Lori Janiuk (Schofield Grade 2 Teacher) on the loss of her sister, Ellen Tiber, on August 28, 2019
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Are You Interested in After School Work?

The Fitness & Health Department is seeking teachers, paraprofessionals and teaching assistants who are interested in working in the Intramural Program at Wellesley Middle School.  Responsibilities include running sessions and after school activities for a stipend.  Specific assignments and activities vary and are organized by the WMS Intramural Coordinator.   We are also seeking qualified faculty and staff members to monitor the High School Fitness Center, before and after school.  A background in Exercise Science, Human Physiology or Personal Training is preferred. 

If you are interested in either of these positions, please email Joanne Grant, Director of Fitness and Health, at: GrantJ@wellesleyps.org.  Immediate openings are available.

  
2020 WEF Grant Applications 
Deadline:  Monday, January 6th    Decision Notifications:  Early April 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Insurance Benefits Information
Health and Dental Insurance Benefits information is handled by the Town Hall Benefits Office.  Inquiries should be directed to Joanne Liburd at JLiburd@wellesleyma.gov or by calling 781-431-1019 extension 2244.  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
 

Renewing Your Educator’s License?
Information about requirements to renew your educator license is available on the WPS website.  Click here to go to the HR Licensure tab.  When you apply for your license on the DESE website under ELAR, the DESE will send you an electronic communication about what is missing from your licensure file in order to renew.   The HR licensure tab and your ELAR account are two tools to assist you with information about licensure renewal.  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
 

WPS Internal Job Postings on District Website
​​​​​​​For all Internal Job Postings, please go to “Internal Job Postings” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website.   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​