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Date: 11/16/2022
LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow School Committee approved a list of requested capital projects for fiscal year 2024 (FY24), worth at least $1.45 million.
The first four of the capital projects relate to safety. New hardware at Williams Middle School would cost an estimated $20,000 and allow for a master key to open all doors in the building, creating streamlined access for custodians, administration and public safety officers. The school also needs an upgrade to its public announcement system, as announcements cannot be heard in all parts of the school. The upgrade would cost $20,500.
The district is also seeking to add cameras to schools throughout the district at a cost of $50,000.
The most expensive of the safety items would be the creation of a lockable vestibule at Wolf Swamp Road School at a cost of roughly $125,000.
During the public comment period, resident Lauren Arbour voiced safety concerns on behalf of more than 60 parents. She said she had received preliminary designs for the entry at Wolf Swam Road School to be outfitted with a second set of doors with access to the office between them as a “pass through.”
If the district or town was hesitant due to cost, Arbour said, “Maybe they can calculate what they think the children’s safety is worth,” and the parents could raise the rest. “I don’t want this to just be a concern when headlines are all over with tragedy,” she commented.
School Committee Vice Chair Mary Keane asked Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Thomas Mazza how many schools in the district had a vestibule with office access. He said only Center School has a layout like that, although other schools have double doors without an office pass through. He said he could not imagine how to create such a vestibule at Glenbrook, which has a classroom directly next to the main entrance.
The remaining seven capital projects are more general facility upgrades. The most expensive of these is the new playground structures at the three elementary schools with synthetic materials on the ground. The $900,000 project would make the playscapes accessible to all students. It would also include fencing between the Wolf Swamp School playground and Knollwood Drive. Currently, there is no barrier. Mazza said the district could seek Community Preservation Act funding for this item to supplement capital funding.
School Committee member Zachary Verriden praised the addition of this item to the capital project list. He said the playgrounds are not inclusive and the equipment is outdated. Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea said the rubber matting that had been installed in the play areas in October was a “bridge solution.”
School Committee Chair Nicole Choiniere said she was “thrilled” that this project was included and asked if other bridge measures would be taken until the project could be completed. Mazza said it was being considered and that all playgrounds in town are being reviewed.
Updates to stair access to the grandstand and press box at the stadium would cost $40,000, while replacing the glass doors in the Longmeadow High School (LHS) display cases would run $200,000. The town had already approved $75,000 for the project, but Mazza said the cost of the project was almost four times the estimate by the time the funding was secured. He also explained that leaving the cases without doors would create a safety issue should someone fall against the shelves and objects inside.
Upgrades to the projection systems at the elementary schools and LHS are designed to be completed in four phases. Each phase will cost about $100,000, except for the replacement of the high school system due to the number of projectors needed there. Mazza explained that the middle school systems will be patched up rather than replaced considering the expected middle school renovation/replacement project.
The district was unable to secure price estimates for three projects available due to inflation and supply chain disruptions. Wolf Swamp and Blueberry Hill schools have not upgraded their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in 20 years. The systems use R22 Freon, an ozone-depleting refrigerant that is being phased out after becoming illegal in the United States in 2020. Mazza said the system at Wolf Swamp Road School has a leak which is dangerous to the environment and requires the refrigerant be consistently topped off.
Painting at all schools throughout the district is expected to be done in several phases. Classrooms, hallways and common areas are all in need of painting at various schools and Mazza said it has been on the capital projects wish list for at least five years.
Another project without an estimate is an adjustment to the traffic patterns at LHS where the “horseshoe” exits onto Grassy Gutter Road. As it stands, people can either exit left, right or go straight across the street and onto Willet Drive. Mazza explained that the changes may eliminate the ability to cross onto Willet Drive, or perhaps, only turn right. He said several accidents have occurred there and LHS Principal Thomas Landers asked that the project be included in the FY24 projects.
The capital projects list will be reviewed by Town Manager Lyn Simmons, who will work to incorporate the projects into the fiscal year budget, however, the town usually has a budget of $2 million for the entirety of the town’s capital projects.
Tuition increase
Mazza informed the committee that the state’s Operational Services Division, which sets tuition rates for special education programs at more than 100 private schools, was intending to raise the cost of out-of-district placements by 14 percent. Historically, inflation-driven increases are about 2.6 percent, Mazza said. With the number of students using those placements this year, the cost to the district would increase by $380,000, or 1 percent of the district’s budget. The committee voted to send a letter to legislators regarding the increase. Choiniere said she would reach out to other area school committees to request they also sign the letter.
MCAS
Assistant Superintendent for Learning Susan Bertrand reported the results of the spring 2022 MCAS tests. While Longmeadow Public Schools (LPS) scored higher than the state average across most grades and content areas, the scores have not rebounded to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. That said, O’Shea pointed out that the scores have recovered some from the previous year’s assessment.
The scores for English language arts (ELA) among grades 3-8 are 11 percent lower than in 2019, with 60 percent of the students meeting or exceeding expectations. The grade 10 ELA scores are 6 percent lower than in 2019, at 73 percent meeting or exceeding. When it comes to math, 59 percent of elementary and middle schoolers, and 70 percent of 10th graders, are meeting or exceeding expectations. Science scores show 64 percent of fifth graders, 66 percent of eighth graders and 71 percent of 10th graders are reaching the meets or exceeds standard.
Bertrand reminded the committee that the MCAS measures a “snapshot” in time and 99 percent of high school students are passing the MCAS with a grade score high enough to graduate. She listed several strategies to improve the assessment outcomes, including continuing Tier 1 curriculum and instruction. This includes universally designed lessons and instructional coaching. Bertrand also listed meaningful professional development, tutoring, summer academic sessions and curriculum accommodation to support the needs of all learners.
School climate and risk
The district also conducted the School Climate Survey in spring 2022, as well the Youth Risk Assessment. The survey is given to students in middle school and high school, while students in seventh grade and up take the assessment. Bertrand said that the younger grades are more positive about school than the secondary level, which is consistent from year to year.
According to the survey, most middle schoolers descried school as “fun,” whereas LHS students describe it as “caring,” “welcoming,” “difficult or “stressful.” In middle school, 67 percent of students have a trusted teacher and 83 percent have a trusted peer. At the high school level, 77 percent report having a trusted adult, while 91 percent say they have a peer they trust.
Stressors for both groups include tests and grades, but middle schoolers also singled out a lack of sleep as a source of stress. Middle school students are getting an average of 7.6 hours of sleep per night, while high schoolers get just 6.7 hours. Recommended sleep for these ages ranges from eight to 10 hours nightly.
The middle school students said they almost always or always finish their work but don’t necessarily see its value. In high school, students do more than two hours of homework on nights and weekends. Competition was a common theme for high schoolers, Bertrand said.
The Youth Risk Assessment shows increasing trends in anxiety, feeling overwhelmed and depression. Eating disorders among all genders are also on the rise after falling for six years. Substance abuse and vaping are decreasing, but alcohol use and binge drinking at increasing among high schoolers. Bertrand said Longmeadow is “one of the top towns in the state for binge drinking. A small portion of middle school students also reported trying marijuana, vaping, alcohol and binge drinking.
O’Shea said the assessment measures perceptions as well as self-reported actions. He said most parents in town want their child to go to a college that is a good fit, but think other parents want kids to go to the most prestigious institutions possible. Similarly, he said, students think their friends party on weekends, but self-report much different behavior.
School Committee member Gianna Allentuck recommended speaking to student-athletes about eating disorders as they are likely to be under more pressure to maintain certain weights or body types.
“The sleep thing really stands out to me,” said Keane.
Student Representative Deagan Connoly said, “The sleep thing plays into the stress thing, and stress plays into the competition thing.” He said that while he has personally learned good time management, if a student gets home from a game at 11:30 p.m. and has a paper due at 7 a.m., “I hate to say it, but you say, ‘Oh, that’s life.’” Keane told him to prioritize sleep over the paper.
School Committee member Julie Morgan said, “I’m just thinking about what we’re teaching our students about life skills. A more is more is more attitude is not going to prepare them well.” Fellow Committee member Kevin Shea suggested more focus should be put on the parent’s role in teaching those life skills.