Regional School District
May 31, 2006
Bridgewater
Raynham
Easton
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Massachusetts
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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After discussions betwen the College (Bridgewater State College : President Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria , Vice President Dr. Edward Minnock , Dean of Education Dr. Anna Bradfield ) and B-R (Superintendent Dr. Robert McIntyre , School Committee Chair Donald DeLutus , School Committee Member Gordon Luciano , School Committee Member Joseph Gillis, Jr. ), the following statement was read:
1) The students at Bridgewater State College (or Normal School) have been participating in practice teaching at Bridgewater (Bridgewater-Raynham) since 1909. As of this academic year (2005-06), BSC averages 16 student teachers per semester in B-R. In addition, another 50-75 students per semester participate in observation, special projects and tutoring to meet course requirements or for service learning prior to student teaching.
2) Some B-R faculty (current and retired) serve as Visiting Lecturers for the College. They serve in roles as course instructors and college supervisors.
3) B-R faculty and administrators serve on advisory councils and evaluation teams for BSC. For example, Diane Bemis is on the Operating Committee of the regional Curriculum Leadership Center, a partnership organization between BSC and SE Massachusetts Schools. Helen Collis (6th grade Burnell School teacher) serves on our Clinical Practice Advisory Council.
4) BSC Faculty provide services to B-R including after-school arts programs, physical education and recreation, and social studies and math organizations.
5) BSC provides professional development for initial and professional stage licensure and license renewal as well as many other professional development activities.
6) BSC and B-R administrators are having initial conversations about a joint induction/mentoring program. BSC is offering a program to develop mentoring and leadership in teachers and B-R teachers are participating.
7) As the School of Education and Allied Studies further develops our Professional Development Schools Initiative, the College is looking forward to having stronger ties and more interaction between B-R and BSC.
For historical purposes, in 1924, the Martha Burnell Campus School (now Harrington Hall) was constructed. In 1978, the new Burnell Campus School opened on East Campus. 1993 marked the passage by the Massachusetts Legislature of the Education Reform Act, which changed many aspects of education. In the mid 1990’s the School’s faculty became employees of the School District. The principal was still employed by BSC until early 2000. At this point, the only institutionally formalized relationship between the Burnell School and BSC is the provision of facilities management, support and repair by the College.
Looking ahead, the new B-R Regional High School is set to open in the 2007-08 school year. The work on the current high school is scheduled to be completed in time to allow it’s re-opening as a middle school for the 2008-09 school year. The current agreement between the College and B-R for the use of the Martha Burnell Campus School is set to expire with the 2008-09 school year (June 2009).
With all building projects complete for the 2008-09 school year, and a re-alignment of grades and buildings at that time, August 2008 would be a good time to migrate the Burnell Campus students into the rest of the Bridgewater-Raynham school facilities. The George Mitchell Elementary School to serve pre-K through grade 2, Williams Elementary to serve grades 3 through 5, Bridgewater Middle (formerly B-R High) to serve grades 6 through 8, and the new B-R High for grades 9 through 12.
The partnership between the Bridgewater-Raynham schools and Bridgewater State College, which has existed for nearly 100 years, will continue to thrive. The ending of the arrangement for the Burnell Campus School is merely the closing of one chapter. The College will continue to have students participate in B-R programs – as student teachers and to provide many educational services.
A motion is hereby made:
The agreement between the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District and Bridgewater State College for use of the facility known as the Martha Burnell Campus School end with the close of the 2007-08 school year. Members of the Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee shall be appointed to work out details of the process to allow for an orderly transition.
The motion passed unanimously, by a vote of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee.
