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Date: 12/8/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – As the district works toward normalized conditions for students and staff, the East Longmeadow School Committee assessed the district’s specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely (SMART) Goals during a Dec. 6 meeting.
Superintendent Gordon Smith gathered the district’s leadership team to present SMART Goals for adjusting students back to curriculum. He detailed the program’s focus on enforcing SMART Goals for students in their efforts to combat learning loss caused by the pandemic. “Getting through this pandemic continues to be a challenge. It’s going to be a process that takes more than one year as we support students and get them back in the fold,” said Smith.
An essential cog in supporting SMART Goals is aiding the district’s staff, with the superintendent discussing initiatives to help teachers in their day-to-day responsibilities. “Staff are not immune to the effects of this pandemic,” said Smith. He detailed the district’s effort to provide additional collaborative time between students and staff while also supporting the staff’s social/emotional well-being. With these supportive pillars in place, 95 percent of staff members across the district shared that they felt supported, according to a survey conducted by Smith.
The superintendent also highlighted the work accomplished by the Diversity and Equity Steering Committee. After the committee accessed the district’s standing, Smith said the group performed an equity audit during the 2020-2021 school year. The committee members developed an equity roadmap with the audit results, implementing a plan to further educate teachers via professional development, adhere to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recommendations and build upon the district’s equitable hiring process, according to Smith.
Smith and his leadership team also revealed the district’s action steps. At the Elementary level, Principal of Mountain View Elementary Elaine Santaniello discussed the district’s incorporation of Second Step Social and Emotional Curriculum, as well as providing access to River Valley counseling services for each student. For secondary schools, Birchland Park Middle School Assistant Principal Conor Martin stressed efforts to provide emotional support, gradually catch students up academically and enhance diversity efforts.
“What we started to see [at the start of the school year] is that there are still challenges to be had and students might have lost some skills. Right now, we’re starting to see students settle in and engage more at the level we are expecting them to,” said Martin.
COVID-19 Update
East Longmeadow Health Director Tammy Spencer spoke about the increase of COVID-19 cases, noting that there has been a gradual rise in cases over the last month. “As of right now, we have 76 residents who have tested positive and who are in isolation. Only 14 of those are actually 18 and under,” said Spencer, who revealed that the town’s positive case rate of 4.98 percent is still lower than Hampden County’s 5.72 percent rate.
While cases are on a slight incline, Spencer revealed that the town’s vaccination rate continues to improve. Over a quarter of the newly vaccine eligible age 5 to 11 group have already received at least one dose of the vaccine, while the 12 to 15 age group rose to a 63 percent vaccination rate and the 16 to 19 age group has a 73 percent rate, according to Spencer.
Nursing Director Kelly LaBombard also discussed vaccination data within the schools, revealing that the East Longmeadow High School has a 70 percent vaccination rate between students and staff. With the school gaining momentum toward DESE’s mask mandate removal goal of 80 percent, Smith emphasized the district’s effort to receive updated vaccination data for students.
He shared that his office continues to obtain new data as they outreach to families who have not revealed their vaccination status. “I really do have to commend not only our nurses, but also our families. Their communication has been incredible,” said Smith.
School Committee Vice Chair William Fonseca stressed the importance of submitting accurate vaccination data when applying for East Longmeadow High School’s DESE exemption, sharing that only 22 of the 30 schools received approval for their exemption waivers. “It’s not an automatic process,” said Fonseca. School Committee member Gregory Thompson also expressed encouragement in the school’s ability to reach the 80 percent rate in the near future.
The School Committee will meet again on Dec. 20.