May 21, 2008
{click here to download the letter from B-R website}
Dear Parents,
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the progress of our ongoing facilities work and related plans for the next school year. The Bridgewater School Buildings Committee was informed at the May 13 meeting that the “repair” work at the Bridgewater Middle School has been completed by the general contractor. A Certificate of Occupancy was issued by the Bridgewater Inspector of Buildings on May 13. We are very pleased with this news, as school district personnel may now begin their work of preparing the building for the next school year. Much of the remaining work is related to: minor repairs and upgrades; painting and cleaning; technology related work; and the moving of supplies, materials, and furniture. I would like to thank the Bridgewater School Buildings Committee and the project manager, Pomroy Associates, for the fine job they have done on this project.
As part of the educational plan for the Bridgewater Middle School, we had proposed the inclusion of a new special education class to be housed in the facility. We have met with, and toured the building with representatives of the Massachusetts Department of Education. I am please to report that we have received encouragement and preliminary approval for the program.
In keeping with past practice, principals will be scheduling “tour days” for students. The intent of these days is to allow students to visit the school building they will be attending during the next school year. The facility tours will be scheduled during the month of June. In addition, principals will schedule “an orientation day” to be held during the week prior to the start of school in August. The orientation day in August provides the opportunity for students and parents to see in more detail the classrooms they will be assigned to.
We are continuing to work on staffing assignments for the next school year. Our anticipated budget allows all current teaching staff to be placed in appropriate assignments, with the goal of balancing class sizes. Once the assignments have been finalized, principals can continue with student and classroom assignments. Please keep in mind that for a number of reasons staff vacancies do occur throughout the summer months, and may result in reassignments or the hiring of new staff.
We have been working closely with Bridgewater State College officials to ensure a smooth transition as the college takes control of the Burnell School. Packing of some materials and supplies has already begun. On the day after school closes, supplies, materials, and furniture will be moved to the appropriate other school buildings.
Packing of supplies and materials that will not be needed during the remainder of this school year has begun in the Mitchell Elementary School and the Williams School. Our custodial staff will begin moving specific teacher materials and furniture to the designated locations as soon as possible. Clearly, we have a great deal of work planned for the summer months.
Principals, along with our Director of Business Affairs, are currently working to prepare the necessary data for the creation of bus routes for the next school year. This is an annual process necessitating the compiling of bus related data for each student in each grade of each building. Once completed, the data will be utilized by our newly contracted bus company to create the routes. Final bus routes are usually distributed to parents in mid to late summer. Due to late registrations, some routes will normally require revisions.
The starting times for school next year should be very similar to this year. Some adjustments will be required due to changes at the high school and the revision of bus routes. We do not anticipate any major changes in the starting and ending times for the school day. The high school is on the schedule, Raynham Middle School, Bridgewater Middle School, and Williams Intermediate School will be the second schedule, and all elementary schools will be on the latest schedule. Bus routes have not been determined, and they are an essential part of determining school day times.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s building principal.
Dr. George C. Guasconi
Superintendent of Schools
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District
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