Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Managing Editor CHICOPEE The media was told that Gov. Deval Patrick's visit to the Patrick E. Bowe School on Thursday was designed not to be disruptive to the students and their classes. The students, though, couldn't have helped but notice Patrick, Mayor Michael Bissonnette, Chicopee School Superintendent Richard Rege, Senators Michael Knapik and Steve Buonoconti and State Representatives Joseph Wagner, James Welch and Sean Curran, and various aides trailing in and out of classrooms as well as the group of state troopers, as well as reporters and photographers standing in the hallways. The governor saw a reading class in progress as well a newly designed math class and a group of students taking tae kwon do instruction. The media event was to provide an opportunity to "continue a conversation on education," Patrick said in a press conference at the conclusion of his tour. The Bowe School was picked for the event because it is one of 18 schools in the Commonwealth to have been awarded a $500,000 grant to fund a longer school day and to add enrichment classes to the curriculum. In his new budget, Patrick has increased Chapter 70 school funding for communities by $223 million. The governor has proposed $26 million for Extended Learning Time Grants a $13 million increase over the present amount that would allow an additional 8,900 students to participate in a lengthened school day program such as the one as the Bowe School. Patrick said he would like to see all schools in the state go for longer school days. He added that the application process for the state funding brings a discipline to how a school district would create and use a longer day. Last year, Patrick explained, he filed two bond bills one to assist public colleges and the other to reorganize the Department of Education and to create a secretary of education cabinet position. Patrick said people look to the government to share responsibility for education and he wants the authority he doesn't presently have over the Department of Education. That is why he is pushing for the creation of a Secretary of Education positon. He said he wants to see the state have a comprehensive pre-kindergarten to college education strategy. Noting the group of legislators standing behind him at the press conference, Patrick said, "There is a cost to inaction." He said he would continue to call on the members of the Legislature to move on his proposals. After the press conference, School Committee member David Barsalou explained to Reminder Publications that this is the first year of the three-year grant and, that other than some initial concerns from parents about how the school day would fit with their work schedule, the schedule is working well. Principal Samuel Karlin explained the school day used to be 8:30 a.m. to 2:38 p.m. and is now 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Ninety-percent of the 440 students at the school walk to the school, he said. He said the adjustment to the new school day has gone smoothly. The difference is not just in a longer day, he explained. The 40 to 60 minute math block has now been expanded into a 75-minute period that presents math in a different way with more individual instruction. There are more enrichment activities such as music, computer studies and physical education and the grant allowed for the hiring of an art instructor. The re-organization of the day gives classroom teachers more common planning time, he added. "I'd hate to see it [the school day] go back," he said. | ||||||
