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Greenfield Schools: 2008-2009
Moving Forward with Vision & Innovation

Friday, June 5, 2009

To Parents, Faculty, and Community members:

It is June! It’s difficult to believe this year has gone by.

The Greenfield Schools have successfully made their way from the chaotic times of last summer through a twelve-month school year. And the news at years-end is positive:  the schools are ending the year on budget, with almost no lay-offs, with much-improved relationships with the city, and with all the schools and programs making improvements for next year.

June 30th is the last day of the 2008-2009 school fiscal year. June 23rd (K-8) and June 24th (high school) are the last days of school for students and teachers. And our high school seniors are graduated this Sunday. Approximately $300,000 in awards and scholarships were distributed to deserving seniors at the awards evening June 4th. It’s very evident that this community supports its students.

Our enrollments have stayed steady all through this school year. And our financial situation is steady—no closing of courses or laying off dozens of teachers this year. We appreciate parents who stayed with the school system this year. Can we even remember those first few weeks?

New school committee and administrative guidelines have the stage set for more student learning opportunities in the future. This includes expanded summer programs at all schools, allowing grade 8 students to take grade 9 courses, and allowing our elementary schools to have specializations and themes.

Renewed city support will allow the high school to be completely refurbished with the latest Smart Board technology in all classrooms. Teachers will be learning about this all summer. We have 7 shop areas open next year thanks to ingenious personnel and determination to re-create a school system that students really enjoy.

We need to sit back and consider how this year started and ended. As the Superintendent, I am very pleased that the year is ending on a positive note. Surely many people have had a hand in the teamwork that took place this year.

Sincerely,
Susan Hollins
Interim Superintendent