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Date: 6/23/2022
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM – Several votes were conducted at the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) School Committee meeting on June 16, including accepting elementary programs of curricula and union contracts.
At a previous meeting, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning Lisa Curtin and her team proposed adoption of new math and English language arts programs, Illustrative Mathematics and Amplify, respectively. When asked about Illustrative Mathematics, Curtin explained that it is a standards-based, problem-based learning program that allows students to solve math equations from several perspectives and find what works best for them.
Both curricula were approved with only School Committee member Patrick Kiernan voting against the programs. He explained that he was not confident in the ability to vertically integrate the programs, that is, for the techniques and terms used in the elementary programs to be carried through to middle school and high school curricula.
After an executive session that lasted an hour and a half, the committee voted unanimously to accept contracts with the union, Hampden-Wilbraham Educational Association (HWEA), for teachers (Unit A) and paraprofessionals (Unit C). The contracts will run through fiscal year (FY) 25.
Drawec Leaves
Minnechaug Regional High School Assistant Principal Heidi Drawec addressed the committee. She explained that she was leaving her position with the district after multiple years as the school’s only assistant principal. Despite communicating that the situation was untenable, she said that it was not addressed. When she expressed frustration at not being given a raise despite doing the work of two assistant principals, Drawec said she was told to “grieve it or leave it.”
“I love my job, I love our school and I love my students,” Drawec said. Drawec said she is glad the person replacing her will have a second assistant principal, as the School Committee voted to hire a second position for FY23. Despite this, she said she felt she had to leave due to not being supported.
School Committee member Sean Kennedy asked that the committee investigate the “grieve it or leave it” issue cited by Drawec to see what can be improved so other faculty do not leave for similar reasons. Superintendent Albert Ganem assured him that the administration has not retaliated against personnel for complaints and Director of Finance, Operations and Human Resources Aaron Osborne said he was not aware of anyone being fired since he joined the district in September 2020.
Budget update
Osborne updated the School Committee on the use of FY22 funds. With two weeks left in the fiscal year, there is roughly $257,000 left unappropriated. Osborne said this put the district, “right on target.”
Osborne said some expenses were taken from the general fund with the understanding it could be switched to come from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grants later if needed. With the district’s finances in a stable condition, Osborne said he wanted to leave the ESSER funds to cover “student-facing” costs in FY23.
The district is receiving a $140,000 credit from the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, which provides transportation for the district. The credit was expected and was built into the FY23 budget.
The district’s finances were audited, as is typical for this time of year. The results were “exceptional,” Osborne said, with no findings or management letter with notes on how they can improve. The student activities account was approved by the committee. An exit survey has been developed to gather an understanding of why personnel leave the district. The survey will be conducted beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1.
Nurse Leader Sought
Nurse Leader Kiara Fryer submitted her resignation to the district as she is moving to Florida for family reasons. The position was posted, and interviews conducted, but the district was not happy with the pool of candidates and reposted the job opening.
Donations
Amazon has partnered with HWRSD to donate returned items to the district. Kennedy, who works for Amazon, said the items are those that are returned with packages that are slightly damaged. Ganem said the district received between 50 and 60 boxes of chalk and two 5-gallon containers of hot sauce, among other items.