Superintendent's Blog

The 2012-2017 Strategic Plan for the Bedford Public Schools has been approved by the Bedcord School Committee. The Strategic Plan has been designed as a roadmap for the future articulating key system goals. In addition, it includes a Technology Vision designed to guide school leaders and the community as we continue the transformation of the learning environment in our schools.

To view the Strategic Plan, click here:

http://www.bedford.k12.ma.us/school-committee/strategic-plan.html

Just a quick note to say have a great April Vacation Week.  As we head into the vacation break, we do so with an approved budget for FY2013.   Special thanks to the Bedford School Committee, the Finance Committee,  the Capital Expenditures Committee and Annual Town Meeting for supporting the budget that will continue to move our schools forward.  During the April Vacation week, we will replace the failing portion of the roof at Lane School and the locks for the JGMS lockers.

Representative Murphy with the Bedford Delegation

Bedford METCO students joined Dr. Napier, our METCO Director, for Lobby Day.  This is an annual event for METCO districts as we seek continued state support for a highly acclaimed program.

Good luck to the two Bedford High School teams headed to the Division 3 North Semi-Finals.

Girls’ Basketball: St. John’s Prep Danvers at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 7th.

Hockey: Chelmsford Forum at 6:00 p.m., Thursday March 8th.

I am very pleased to report that Henry Turner has accepted the Bedford High School Principal position starting July 1st.  By way of background, Henry has been a Housemaster at Newton South High School since 2009.  Prior to assuming this administrative role, Henry was a Social Studies teacher for 7 years at Lexington High School.  One of Henry’s references said the following about his efforts to address the Achievement Gap:

“Henry’s willingness to take on the difficult challenge with grace and aplomb, his creative thinking and problem solving, his ability to generate common respect and confidence with a diverse student, faculty, and parent community, and his good sense of humor and people skills contribute to his status at South as a true superstar.”

As Henry moved through the interview process in Bedford,  he affirmed what his references said about him demonstrating an ability to listen carefully, answer thoughtfully, and understand the culture and complexities of Bedford High School.  In the hiring of a principal, the fit of the leader with the position and the work ahead is always critical.  In my view, Henry has demonstrated that he has both the talent and leadership style that will serve our  high school well.  It is a privilege to welcome Henry to Bedford.

Here’s a quick update on the status of our FY2013  Budget.   The Finance Committee has approved the FY 2013 School  Committee Budget for $32,787,202, a 3.38% increase over FY2012.  It is important to remember and underscore that  we were able to achieve an agreed upon budget that supports current staffing and needs because of the Bedford Education Association  contract settlement.  While the budget is not final until Annual Town Meeting approval at the end of March, the Finance Committee  vote is a significant step forward.  This budget maintains current programming and includes the following restorations and additions:

• (.5) Instructional Technology Specialist at Davis School
• (.5) Tech Support staff
• (.4) Teaching Assistant  BHS Skills Center (.6) TA  Crossroads program
• (2) Teaching Assistants  and a (1.0) Teacher for the JGMS Transitions Program
• Increase in time for Adjustment Counsellors at Lane and JGMS and Occupational Therapist at Lane
• Implementation of the K12 plan for technology purchases following a hiatus for the last several years
• Purchase of iPads for grade 10

I am deeply  appreciative that the Finance Committee has supported this budget.  Getting there has been a team effort.  I know that the wonderful work that our staff does each and every day  in our schools each day is the reason this amazing town continues to support our schools.  As we move this budget forward, I want to extend a special thanks to David Coelho and Cyndy Taymore who have been wonderful partners in helping me shape and present the budget we need for our schools.  And kudos to the Bedford School Committee for the many hours they have invested to get us to this juncture.

The creation of more opportunities to purchase and author   digital textbooks  is highlighted in today’s edition of T.H.E. Journal which notes the release of the  iBook2 ( http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/01/19/apple-launches-ibooks-2-ibooks-author.aspx)

In Bedford, as we continue the development of our 1:1 initiative at the high school, the opportunity to create and revise our own textbooks is a key component of the shift we are supporting in our classrooms.  With that end in mind, we have joined with Andover and Burlington High Schools submitting an Innovation  Grant to the DESE seeking some financial support for our teachers to continue to work together.  Last June Burlington High School hosted a professional development week so that our teachers could  share digital resources via ePubs.

If the three districts are successful in getting this competitive grant, our cross-district collaboration will provide a great model for the rest of the state.  It is time for Massachusetts to support the shift from traditional to digital textbooks and Bedford is well-positioned to help lead the way.

If you have time, watch the video just released by Apple.

http://www.apple.com/education/#video-textbooks

During the Martin Luther King weekend Governor Patrick hosted Project 351, the second annual statewide volunteer effort involving  eight graders from across the Commonwealth.  Michael Barkan represented John Glenn Middle School at this event.  Michael’s day included a town hall meeting with Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray and Mayor Menino.  Michael then joined The Cradles to Crayon group refurbishing and packaging supplies for homeless children.

In nominating Michael for this honor, his teachers said the following:

Michael Barkan is an affable and respectful young man.  At an age where many are prone to follow, Michael is a natural leader.  Whether it is working with others in group projects, participating in class conversations or merely in a casual setting, Michael meets peers and adults alike, with the same genuine and congenial smile.

Kudos to Michael for achieving this honor!  JGMS is very proud to have such a caring leader and great role model in its midst.

The current edition of the Primary Source Newsletter highlights an inter generational collaboration that involved multiple school districts and Primary Source, one of Bedford’s Professional Development providers.  Primary Source hosted a rich online discussion of the novel Girl in Translation. This poignant story of a young woman immigrating from Hong Kong to the U.S. highlights many of the issues facing the school aged immigrants who enter our country today. The newsletter notes:

Readers of all ages were engaged in thinking about critical global issues such as immigration, child labor, race, and identity. Educators were inspired to consider ways to incorporate Girl in Translation into their curricula in order to foster a deeper understanding of global issues.

Having an online discussion involving both adult book groups and the first time author Jean Kwok was a great opportunity for our high school literary scholars.

I have read this  novel and recommend it to you.  If you want to read the newsletter that mentions our BHS students, here’s the link:  http://primarysource.org/technology-connects-author-schools-for-global-conversation

One of the blogs that I follow as part of my Personal Learning Network is Mind/Shift.  In a recent post, one of the guest contributors noted that we can expect the following trends to grow in 2012:  Teacher Collaboration, Technology Integration, and Blended Learning.  These trends reflect the work we are doing in our schools as we make the time for more teacher collaboration, encourage the integration of online resources into classroom pedagogy, and support teachers’ efforts to incorporate blended learning models into their practice.  As I think about 2012, I am convinced that we have reached the “tipping point” that will quickly shift our schools into a future where the roles of teacher and student are more fluid, the requirements for time on learning are redefined, the use of technology and classroom access to the internet via 1:1 devices more widespread, and and the need to collaborate across time and space  more urgent than ever before.

I know that our talented faculty is ready for this shift and I, for one, am excited to see them evolve their practice in the coming year.

If you are interested in learning more about these trends, click here:  http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/12/three-trends-that-define-the-future-of-teaching-and-learning-2/