ANNUAL REPORT 2022–2023 | 3
SUPERINTENDENT’S WELCOME
ACTON AND BOXBOROUGH COMMUNITY,
With the daily challenges of COVID squarely in our rearview mirror, we were able to turn our full attention to helping our students recover from the pandemic. As any of our educators, families, or students can attest, the pandemic took a toll on our students. This past year was about return- ing schools to normalcy and making sure that we support students’ social-emotional and academic recovery from several years of disruption. We undertook several important initiatives to support students’ social-emotional needs and mental health:
Another highlight of the year is that we were able to successfully complete five administrative searches! We are delighted to welcome the following individuals to their new roles:
• We provided training to our educators K-12 in trauma-informed care . This training helps educators to proactively create environments in schools and classrooms that support students who have experienced traumatic events or conditions. • We introduced and expanded advisory programs in the junior high and high school. These programs allow educators and students to meet regularly in small groups to focus on relationships and a sense of belonging. • To improve students’ access to mental healthcare, we partnered with Cartwheel Care , an innovative organization that guaranteed access to counseling services within five days of referral. Academically, we focused on improving students’ literacy and mathematics out- comes through our tiered system of support. At the elementary level, this involved having our educators work together to look at student learning data and make sure that additional support was provided for students who needed it. We also continued to focus on making sure all of our schools create a strong sense of belonging for our students. Similar to what has been reported in the news at both the state and national level, our district saw incidents of hate and bias at un- acceptable levels over the last two years. This year, we brought together a coalition of students, families, staff and community members to discuss this troubling trend and plan activities in our community that can interrupt this pattern and shift our culture to one that values a fundamental respect for human differences.
• Andrew Shen , Deputy Superintendent of Schools • Sheri Matthews , Director of Finance and Operations
• Tricia O’Reilly , Principal of the Luther Conant Elementary School • Larry Wolpe , Principal of the C.T. Douglas Elementary School • Christina Gavin , Principal of the Merriam Elementary School
I am grateful to the citizens of Acton and Boxborough for unanimously passing the school budget at the town meetings earlier this year. It is gratifying to work in a community that demonstrates such unified support for the schools. It is also important to note that this year marks the second consecutive budget for the schools where we had to make difficult reductions to staff. Pressures from inflation and rising costs, along with limited revenue, will continue to be a challenge for our schools and we will need to pay careful attention to this in the coming years. I want to end by thanking our educators and staff for all of their work over the last year. They remain extraordinarily committed to our students and families and are truly the backbone of our district. Peter Light SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
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