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Schools

Changes to Teacher Evaluations Could be Coming

Superintendent William McAlduff reported to the School Committee last night on facilities progress, as well as possible changes in the evaluation process for teachers and administrators.

During a meeting, detailed facilities updates throughout the district, then went on to discussed a “fundamentally different” proposal to the way teachers and administrators may be evaluated in Massachusetts.

McAlduff distributed a memo from the Commissioner of Education, along with the Commissioner’s proposal for teacher and administrator evaluation. This proposal took into consideration the findings of a Massachusetts task force on teacher and administrative evaluation.

“This Monday, the last early release day of the year, staff will get together in the afternoon to discuss anticipated changes to Common Core, which will be integrally related to the state’s new evaluation system,” McAlduff said.

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The proposed changes would focus on how students fare on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and other exams. Teachers and administrators whose students do well will be rewarded, while those whose students underperform will be placed on improvement plans.

If a teacher's students continue to struggle on the state exams they could be terminated.

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He emphasized the importance of reading the proposal carefully and evaluating it, noting there will be a two-month public comments period on the proposed changes.

Reflecting on the importance of putting in public comments, School Committee member Sarah Swiger said, “Don’t just put in things you want to change; put in things you want to stay.”

The Winchester teacher's union and the School Committee will also get a chance to discuss and negotiate the proposed changes, which, if the state approves, will be implemented over the next two to three years.

“I’m excited about this,” said Vice Chairman Christopher Linskey. “We need to see where the contention is and where the agreement is.”

“It’s a very different vision,” McAlduff told school committee members.

School Building Update

McAlduff began his Superintendant’s report with a full update on facilities work throughout the school district.

“The process is moving smoothly” on the Parkhurst Elementary School renovation, he said. Groom Construction has been signed as the general contractor for the project. Services have been secured for National Grid to provide natural gas piping into the property for a natural gas heating system. That work will be completed before the general contractor begins work.

The Parkhurst facility is expected to be completed by August 5, allowing a week to move into the building and two weeks for teachers to settle in before school begins.

A transition committee has been established.

The roof is also moving along. The town expects to receive a 33.95 percent reimbursement, up to $535,000. Bidding for the project will open next Tuesday. Work will begin the day after school gets out and all major work will be completed by the time the new school starts.

McAlduff also reported on the . They received approval from the town's project manager to work on the study, and have submitted it to MSBA. They expect to hear from the MSBA in mid-May. The request for proposal should be out and back by mid-June, which will allow the planning process to take place during the next school year, from September through June.

The solar array project is moving forward and has gone out to bid, according to McAlduff. The plan is to work on the project during the summer and have it completed by August 29, the first day of school.

McAlduff also gave a report on the courtyard gym wall at the which had It has been determined that all bricks on that wall from the top to the upper window level must be removed.

Insurance will cover the cost, after deductible, for stabilizing and removing the bricks. Work was already done over February and April breaks. They are working with an engineer to get the brick work done while school is in operation without disrupting school. The goal is to complete work before the end of this school year because that parking lot will be dug up for a drainage project during the summer.

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