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Date: 2/19/2020
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Tatham Elementary School Principal Kate Morneau brought more than a dozen of her students to the West Springfield School Committee meeting on Feb. 11 to present their work and give an update on what the school has accomplished so far this school year.
Morneau opened by talking about the modular classrooms that were added to the school in the fall.
“No doubt, this was a highlight of Tatham school this year,” Morneau said, adding that the school is “appreciative of space for teaching and learning.” She said the fifth-grade students had reflected on the new space and she reported their findings: The modulars are cleaner, less cramped, and there is more one-on-one time with the teachers. It is brighter, there is better heating and air conditioning and fewer people so it’s quieter. The students “like the library” and “love the tech,” Morneau told the committee. The space freed-up by the modulars also allowed the math specialist to create a learning center in which to instruct the students.
Morneau told the school committee that the school had added seven faculty, including one adjustment counselor, special education teacher, first-grade teacher, two fifth-grade teachers, an art teacher and a unified arts teacher.
The librarian read books from the Frida B series by local author Renata Bowers to the entire school. The books reinforce messages about being a good person.
In line with the district’s focus on attendance, Tatham has implemented a few different programs. Attendance is encouraged by giving the class with the most 100-percent attendance days a reward and conducting a monthly raffle for the students with perfect attendance. The school also took part in a district-wide poster contest on why attendance matters.
Morneau took the opportunity to wish Business Manager Carey Sheehan, Acting Assistant Superintendent Kevin McQuillan and Superintendent Michael Richard well, as each of them is leaving the district. She also thanked Curriculum Director and newly-named Interim Superintendent Tim Connor for “bringing quality professional development” to Westside. Connor takes over as superintendent on Feb. 24.
Acting Assistant Superintendent Kevin McQuillan reported updates on the new Coburn School project.
“Several of our concerns have been addressed and the plans have been modified, in some respects, to resolve them,” McQuillan said. Issues that have been addressed include fire safety, cost, practicality, maintenance, traffic, security and circulation within the building. Architects have submitted site plans to the planning board.
The next steps include a playground planning meeting, a hazmat meeting, a traffic plan review by the Department of Public Works and two Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) reviews of the construction documents.
School Committee member Pat Garbacik asked about a recent increase in the MSBA’s budget and if there would be more money for the project. Garbacik suggested state Sen. James Welch and state Rep. Michael Finn might intervene on the district’s behalf. McQuillan said that he would reach out to the legislators.
Other topics included the approval of the 2019 to 2022 contract for the West Springfield Schools Clerical Association and the salary placement for a speech-language pathologist.