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Richard presents District Improvement Plan

Date: 10/16/2015

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Superintendent Michael Richard presented the 2015-18 District Improvement Plan to the School Committee at its Oct. 13 meeting.

Richard and a team of administrators in the district, as well as School Committee members Nancy Farrell, Pat Garbacik and Jose Irizarry, worked to put the plan together beginning in the spring and continuing through the summer.     

The plan, which is “designed to help this district move forward,” boils down to six main objectives, Richard said.

“First, all individual education plans will include goals and objectives based on student data in order to address targeted students’ needs. Second, identify an inclusionary model for consideration in West Springfield. Create and implement a curriculum review cycle for all grades and content areas,” Richard said. “Create a long range, district-wide professional development plan that emphasizes peer led opportunities. Finally, address the social and emotional needs of all our students.”

His team approved each objective unanimously, he said.

Richard and the rest of the team have agreed to twice a year “to look at the plan, see where we are, see where we need to go and if adjustments need to be made to that plan, then we’ll make them then and there instead of waiting until 2018,” he said.

Despite having a quorum, Mayor Edward Sullivan suggested to delay the vote, as three members of School Committee were absent. Three of the four remaining members sat on the team that created the plan.

The plan will go to vote at the School Committee’s Oct. 27 meeting.

The team consisted of Assistant Superintendent Kevin McQuillan, Business Manager Carey Sheehan, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Tim Connor, Director of Special Services Francine Bidga, Transitional Administrator and ELL Director Colleen Marcus, West Springfield High School Principal Vito Perrone, West Springfield Middle School Principal Peter Gillen, Coburn Elementary School Principal Shelly St. George, Mittineague Elementary School Principal Diane Doe, Tatham Elementary School Principal Paul Heath and Adjustment Counselor Kelli Quigley.