Friday, August 29, 2008

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Welcome back to the 2008-09 school year! I hope and trust that you and your family enjoyed some time together this summer to rest and relax.

Every school year seems to have its own set of transitions, full of hope, anticipation, and sometimes a little anxiety.  My wife Karen and I sent two of our daughters off to college in Washington D.C. this past week, one to American University and the other to George Washington University.  Like most parents, it is with a sense of pride and a bit of anxiety that we said goodbye to our daughters as they begin a new semester so far away from home. And next week our third daughter begins her high school career, missing her siblings, but at the same time enjoying the extra space and anytime access to the computer!  During the last week I have been reminded of our common goals as parents and educators to prepare our students to be confident, independent, and resilient.  

As we prepare for the opening of school on Wednesday, September 3^rd (for Newman students Monday, September 8^th), please allow me to share a few updates:

• Performance Report  The 2008 Needham Public Schools Performance Report will be mailed out and should be in your home within the next week. The report provides detailed information about Needham's schools, programs, and student achievement. We are very proud of the report and hope you find it valuable and useful.

•  PowerSchool: This month we learned a high school student accessed the district’s electronic student information data server, PowerSchool, using a teacher’s password that was obtained without the teacher’s knowledge. Once in the system, the student exported and shared data which contained high school student identification numbers, schedules, and high school teacher rosters. Students and parents who obtained this data on the online social networking site, Facebook, immediately notified us.  We recognized this as an inappropriate and illegal activity and began an investigation involving the district’s administrators and Needham Police.   While the student investigation continues, the school staff is reviewing procedures to ensure passwords are secure and an incident like this is not repeated.  We are concerned about this breach in our security and will address this episode aggressively to ensure that the integrity of PowerSchool is maintained. While we are updating these routines, PowerSchool will not be accessible to students and parents. Additional information, including instructions for parents to access PowerSchool securely to update student and contact information, will be mailed home within a few weeks.

•  Newman Update  As you know by now, the Newman School community will begin school three days later this year as a result of the construction and remediation efforts underway this past summer.  Last winter the Newman school community faced a failing heating and ventilation system. The 48-year-old system, much of it built into the concrete slab of the building and inaccessible for repair, was blowing dust particles and debris through the library and adjacent areas requiring the relocation of some staff members who were developing allergic reactions and symptoms. Additional adverse student and staff reactions in other areas of the building led to the closing of three additional classrooms and the library. The concern about the quality of the school's inside air, in combination with the spring's pollen season, was problematic for the Newman community. Ongoing testing was conducted and a Massachusetts Department of Public Health report indicated that immediate efforts were required to ensure the building occupants' health and safety. Quick action in the spring by town officials resulted in a $650,000 appropriation by Town Meeting to fund short-term remediation efforts and a longer-term feasibility study. The study is being conducted by the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) to determine options for a permanent solution.

Several medical, environmental and occupational health specialists have been working closely with Principal Barbara Collins and members of the school’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Team to assess our progress, monitor the ongoing work, and provide assurances that the building is safe and healthy for all students and staff. At this point Principal Collins and I are extremely pleased with the condition of the building and are both confident that Newman’s students and staff will enjoy a productive and healthy school year.

We will continue to collaborate with the town to address Newman’s long-term needs, and our medical professionals will continue to work throughout the school year to monitor air quality issues there.  More information about the ongoing work at Newman can be found on the district’s website: Newman School Remediation Updates

•  Focus on Teacher Growth & Learning  Throughout the summer school staff participated in a variety of professional development programs designed to enhance their knowledge and impact student learning.  Almost 400 teachers and administrators participated in courses, workshops, curriculum improvement projects, or developed additional skills to ensure teacher collaboration through a

Professional Learning Community  model.  Many talented people were involved in learning new ideas and preparing curriculum better aligned to standards and better directed for student learning and success.  

•  Core Values  Last school year the School Committee adopted four core values that we believe provide the foundation for all our work in the Needham Public Schools:

Scholarship

Learning. Every student engaged in dynamic and challenging academic experiences that stimulate thinking, creativity, wellness and encourage inquiry and continued learning. Staff improving their practice in an environment that supports a high level of collaboration and learning focused on helping every student learn and achieve.

Community

Working together. A culture that embraces communication, understanding, and the promotion of human dignity as responsibilities all students and staff have toward one another, their schools, and a diverse local and global community.

Citizenship

Contributing. An environment that nurtures respect, integrity, compassion, and service and where all members of the school community participate fully. ~Working together, sharing ideas, and encouraging multiple perspectives ensures a vibrant and caring community.

Personal Growth

Acting courageously. All students developing skills and confidence through personalized educational experiences that build on student strengths and emphasize reflection, curiosity, resilience, and risk taking.

Again this year we will strive to integrate these values into all of our work with Needham’s students believing that there is no higher purpose for the community than to ensure our children have an exceptional educational experience that will empower them as learners and citizens.

We are looking forward to greeting your child and all the students beginning next week. Let me take this opportunity to wish each young person a successful school year!

As always, please contact me now and throughout the year with questions, comments, and suggestions. I can be reached at 781.455.0400, extension 203 or dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!

Sincerely,

Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools