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Date: 4/13/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – With educational needs continuing to evolve, the School Committee approved a new preschool model that will include five days of schooling a week during their April 11 meeting.
East Longmeadow Public School Consultants and Behavioral Analysts Carol Hanlon, Sydney Warchol and Monica Dallahan discussed their observations of the district’s pre-K program. After interviewing preschool staff members and administrators, Hanlon and her team concluded that the current approach requires changes.
“What they felt was working was not working with the current model,” said Hanlon, who shared that her team also interviewed the Ludlow, Wilbraham, Windsor Locks and Longmeadow school districts as a part of their process.
Currently, East Longmeadow Pre-K schools meet four days a week for half the day, according to Warchol. Hanlon shared that the four districts the consulting team interviewed operate with five-day schooling for pre-K, as well as offering full-day sessions except for Windsor Locks.
Another revelation from the interview process was the idea to integrate a designated Pre-K Program Coordinator. Hanlon said this position operated as a central point of contact for parents in their respective school districts.
“This person was that first and most common contact with the families…so [parents] attributed a large sense of trust to the district based on the relationship they were able to develop with this one person,” said Hanlon.
Superintendent Gordon Smith expressed his support for five-day pre-K education and other changes. Smith envisions the five-day change as a short-term goal, with the district likely implementing a model similar to Longmeadow and Windsor Locks.
Smith also envisions making other changes to the preschool model over the next few years. “I think it gives us an opportunity, especially if we’re able to do it over two school years, to really do it well in terms of transition. We can start to look at what our curriculum needs and should we be adopting certain things,” said Smith.
The School Committee ultimately approved the pre-K changes in a unanimous vote.
MSBA Update
Smith also provided an update about the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) feasibility study for East Longmeadow High School. After interviewing the final three design firm candidates last week, the school district selected Jones Whitsett Architects in partnership with SMMA.
The superintendent explained that the school district is undergoing contract negotiations with the selected parties. Smith also expressed his support for the selected architects.
“SMMA and [Jones Whitsett Academy] had done a facility study for all five schools…[they] had a really good understanding of the district, our buildings, specifically the high school, and a really good understanding of our town,” said Smith.
The East Longmeadow School Committee will meet again on April 25.