Special Programs Committee to seek speakers for Longmeadow schools

Date: 10/9/2014

LONGMEADOW – Longmeadow Public Schools’ Special Programs Committee conducted its first-ever meeting on Oct. 3, which included at least 27 parents and faculty members seeking to create programs centered on raising awareness about issues such as stress, bullying, and addiction.

“There are so many issues that impact their learning on a weekly basis and we can do a lot more to help them,” Superintendent of Schools Marie Doyle said. “I think one of the parents acknowledged that the more informed you are, the better it is for all of us.”

One goal of the Special Programs Committee is to find speakers to inspire or raise awareness on a variety of topic in the lives of students, parents, and community members.

Chris Herren, a former NBA star who struggled with drug addiction in the past, shared his personal story at Longmeadow High School (LHS) on Sept. 15.

Shelly Warren, the district’s substance abuse response coordinator and chair of the Special Programs Committee, said there is a cutting problem in the district. Approximately 17 percent of students who answered a survey last year stated that they have cut themselves in the past.

“Cutting’s very contagious, once it starts with one it goes,” Doyle added.

Warren said student use of marijuana is also significantly above averages and current studies show that marijuana use affects teenage brain development.

“As far as substance abuse goes, what is a huge thing for me is the attitude towards marijuana,” she added. “I think it’s a really timely topic because I think we’re probably going to be looking at a question on the ballot about legalization in Massachusetts.”

Peter Bradshaw, a physical education teacher at Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School, said one issue is student health and wellness for lower grades.

“They don’t have health anymore, we used to have a health teacher in every school,” he added. “[Budget] cuts came 15, 20 years ago and that was one of the first things that went.”

Bradshaw said his students take physical education two days a week for a total of 90 minutes.

“There’s not enough time to really necessarily get deep enough into a health curriculum,” he added. “So, that skims the surface. By the time they leave fifth grade, they haven’t really had a lot of those basics.”

John Elder Robison, a native of Amherst who wrote “Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s” was one potential guest speaker mentioned during the meeting who is interested in speaking to students.

Robison is the co-founder of TCS Auto program, a high school program for teens with special needs that gives them the opportunity to learn mechanics. Robison also is the founder of JE Robison Service of Springfield, a business that restores Rolls Royce, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes, and BMW automobiles, according to Robison’s LinkedIn page.

The Special Programs Committee assigned three sub-committees for elementary, middle, and high school levels. Amy Halpern was appointed chair of the elementary sub-committee, Sandy Neumann was approved as middle school chair, and Dawn Tallaksen was chosen as high school chair.