[Superintendent's Update] Superintendent's Update

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

Dear Needham Families:

Allow me to share a few updates as we approach the holiday weekend:

•  Teacher Gifts   Over the years, Needham parents have proven to be
extremely thoughtful and generous when it comes to thanking teachers and
staff for their work with their children.  Unfortunately, gift giving has
become more complicated each year, and now specific state ethics laws
prohibit all staff (including teachers, aides, athletic coaches, crossing
guards, bus drivers, administrators, etc.) from receiving even small
tokens of appreciation without the staff member filing an official
disclosure of the gift.  The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission allows
the following:

- A teacher may receive one class gift of up to $150 in value once per
year from the class as long as it is clear that the gift is from the
entire class and not just a few students in the classroom.  Any gift in
excess of $150 to the teacher is prohibited by law.

- A teacher or staff member may receive a gift of up to $50 in value from
an individual student/family who did not contribute to the class gift in
the example above as long as the staff member files a disclosure form with
the school system. Any gift, including gift cards, jewelry, tickets,
clothing, beverages, etc., over $50 in value is prohibited by law.

- Staff members may receive perishable items (e.g., food, flowers) up to
$50 in value as long as the staff member shares the item(s) with members
of the school community.  These items do not need to be disclosed by the
teacher.  

Parents may show their appreciation to individual teachers/staff members
by making a donation to the school's PTC or to the [
http://www.nefneedham.org/donate-trc.php ]NEF: Teacher Appreciation Cards 
These organizations have well-established procedures for the distribution
of funds to schools and individual classrooms, and such donations are not
affected by State Ethics rules. If you make a donation to the PTC or NEF
in a staff member's name, that staff member does not need to file a
disclosure.  This year's deadline for NEF Teacher Appreciation Cards is
December 13, 2013.

•  School Space  Several activities have taken place over the last few
weeks resulting in two important decisions about Hillside and Mitchell,
our oldest and most space-crunched school buildings.  Special Town
Meeting authorized $2.7 million to design and install four new modular
classrooms at Mitchell to relieve the school’s overcrowded classrooms,
hallways, and spaces.  And last week the Massachusetts School Building
Authority (MSBA) voted to move five Massachusetts school projects,
including Hillside, forward into their construction grant process.  This
was the first of many steps that must be taken to secure funding from the
MSBA and Needham’s voters to construct a new Hillside School.   For
both schools these are long anticipated and welcome projects!

 • Weather  I am hoping the snow won't be flying anytime soon, but if
it does I want you to know that I will do my level best to make decisions
about delays or school closings by approximately 5:30 in the morning.  I
will use email, phone, and Twitter to let parents know about
weather-related cancellations and delays.  Please make sure you have
updated your contact information by clicking here:  [
https://powerschool.needham.k12.ma.us/public/ ]PowerSchool . And you can
follow me on Twitter as well:  https://twitter.com/@NPS_Supt  

I have been asked in the past by parents and students how much snow does
it take for me to cancel school.  Here is the clearest answer I can
give:  It all depends!  While student safety is always my first
consideration, the forecast, road conditions, ice, and snow depth are all
factors in my decision making.  I believe it is important for students to
be in school whenever it is possible. If it is projected to snow about
three or four inches, I am inclined to hold school, even if it is a
delay.  Whatever the forecast, I will continue to do my best to make
weather-related calls as safely and as soon as I practically can. 

• High School Athletics  Congratulations to the Division I
Championship girls' Cross Country Team for winning the state title last
weekend.  At the same time, senior Jake Shuman won the individual golf
championship title!  The girls' soccer and swim teams also received the
prestigious Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's (MIAA)
2013 Sportsmanship Awards for displaying fair play, integrity, and good
spirit on and off the field/pool.  I believe the reason theses teams (and
last year football, tennis, and soccer) received this important award is
because of the girls' personal character and the hard work of all their
coaches and teachers (PreK-12) who have emphasized important social and
emotional lessons and skills over the years.  They make us all proud!

Finally, let me wish you and your families a peaceful and restful
Thanksgiving Holiday.  For those families celebrating the Festival of
Lights, Happy Hanukkah!   I am looking forward to picking up one of my
daughters at Logan later this evening and driving home so we can join her
younger sister and wonderful mom (and wife) for a peaceful holiday
weekend.   Like you, I am very thankful for my family!  I am also thankful
to know and to work with a talented staff, committed parents, a supportive
community, and the exceptional young people of Needham.

I am honored to be your superintendent, and I appreciate the opportunity
you have given me.

Go Rockets!  Beat Wellesley!

Dan Gutekanst, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Needham Public Schools
781.455.0400 x203



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