Lenox School Committee discusses strategic planning

LENOX – Strategic planning is a main goal of the Lenox School Committee this year.

It was a brought up as a topic of conversation many times at the committee’s most recent meeting.

Leading the charge was School Committee Member Jo Anne Magee.

“I think strategic planning is very important,” she said.

Ultimately, it was decided to look into forming a steering committee to guide the strategic planning process.

“We need people who are really ready to roll up their sleeves,” said School Committee Secretary Veronica J. Fenton.

The rest of the school committee members echoed Ms. Fenton’s sentiments indicating the group needs to have a clear focus and not get sidetracked by any philosophical debates.

“It has to be something that really works,” David Berkel said.

In order to do this, they agreed the size of the group should to be kept to seven or eight members.

Ms. Magee and School Committee Chairman Don W. Fitzgerald also discussed utilizing their liaisons to the town’s select board and finance committee instead of forming a whole new committee.

“[We could] work on making an existing committee better,” Mr. Fitzgerlald suggested in lieu of creating an entirely new committee.

Superintendent Edward W. Costa II indicated having some assistance in strategic planning would be a positive.

“It certainly does [help],” he said.

Dr. Costa will create a document about the formation of a steering committee to present at the next school committee meeting, which will take place on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at Lenox Town Hall.

New bus purchase approved

The school committee also approved the purchase of an 18-seat, one wheelchair space bus from DATTCO out of New Britain, Conn. It will be used to transport 13-15 pre-kindergarten students, according to Lenox Public Schools Director of Business Services Henry C. Maimin.

The cost to the district is $45,230, which Mr. Maimin said was available in the capital budget.

New classes going well

The new eight-period scheduling for Lenox Memorial Middle and High School (LMMHS) is going well, according to Dr. Costa and Principal Michael Knybel.

“What looked complicated and felt complicated…wound up being smooth sailing,” Principal Knybel said. Students are engaged.

With the new schedule, 11 new classes and 16 new extra sections of already existing classes were added. One of the highlights of the new course offerings is a new middle school-level STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) class, which utilizes a 3-D printer.

“It’s a printer that actually sculpts,” Dr. Costa said.

“Our kids are on the cutting edge,” added Principal Knybel.

Some students are also taking online classes, including AP (Advanced Placement) psychology.

Full-day kindergarten starts

Morris Elementary School Principal Timothy Lee said the new no-fee, full-day kindergarten program is off to a smooth start as well.

“All the students appear to be making it through the day with the same enthusiasm they started the day with,” he said.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on September 13, 2012. Filed under Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry