EAST LONGMEADOW — At the June 17 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Gordon Smith and members of the leadership teams from each of East Longmeadow’s five schools presented an end-of-year update on the district and individual schools’ goals, successes and needed growth following the 2023-24 school year.
This presentation served as an update to the mid-cycle presentations that the leadership shared at the School Committee’s Feb. 26 meeting.
Smith opened the presentation by reviewing the district’s 2023-24 goals, including improving attendance rates, providing additional academic interventions, providing staff support and developing a culturally inclusive community.
For East Longmeadow High School, Principal Frank Paige and Assistant Principal Anne Blain shared an update on the school’s Freshman Team of teachers and usage of the personalized learning program IXL. While ninth grade students are continuing to receive test scores below level, Paige emphasized that IXL had activities to address students’ needs and that the school would continue to become familiar with the program as well as utilize interventions to help student growth.
Paige also reported that that school’s leadership met with 200 students to discuss whether students felt included in the school’s community. He stated that the student conversations were designed to help the leadership understand students’ perspective and work toward “incorporating more student voice” in the coming school years.
Interim Principal Steve Pearson and interim Assistant Principal Natalie Ojunga-Andrew shared goals for Birchland Park Middle School. During their presentation, they highlighted the school’s work with math instructional coaches to support students’ growth with Ojunga-Andrew stating that the coaches functioned as a “thought partner” for students to receive feedback on their progress. Pearson also stated that 25 Birchland Park students received tutoring from National Honor Society students at East Longmeadow High School, which he said they were looking to “revisit” for the next school year.
Another update that Pearson shared was the school’s focus on mental health support as a way to combat chronic absenteeism. “We really focused on our relationship with River Valley [Counseling] to get those kids some of the assistance needed so they’d be a little bit more comfortable coming to school; getting to the root of the problems that were keeping them from attending school,” he said. Since the mid-cycle review, Birchland Park has seen a “significant” drop in chronic absenteeism with the school’s rate dropping from 12% to 7%, Pearson stated.
Within Mapleshade Elementary, Principal Conor Martin stated that the school had worked to reduce bullying, explaining that they had received an anti-bullying grant which was used to support social-emotional lessons. At the school, 82% of surveyed students stated that they had been bullied while 58% stated they had witnessed someone being bullied, according to Martin.
“Our students recognize that we have made an effort [to reduce bullying]. Ninety-three percent have recognized that here at Mapleshade we’re not tolerating bullying,” he said, highlighting data in a student survey in which 93% of students agreed that the school had worked to reduce bullying.
Likewise, Martin stated that Mapleshade was utilizing awards and other celebratory actions to encourage student growth and engagement.
In Mountain View Elementary School, Principal Elaine Santaniello shared that the school had seen significant drops in chronic absenteeism rates, highlighting that the rate had dropped to 2.9% after being 5.9% in 2023 and 22.5% in 2022. She stated that the decrease demonstrates students’ interest in attending school.
Concerning creating an inclusive community in the school, Santaniello described surveys conducted with students and staff on engagement, enjoyment and safety. Additionally, Mountain View reached out to parents to inquire the best forms of communication and plans to utilize the Power School platform to send more of the preferred email and text notifications, she said.
Principal Renee Lodi also reported that Meadow Brook Elementary School had seen a drop in chronic absenteeism during her presentation with Assistant Principal Lauren Shea. At the school, rates have dropped 11.4% since 2023. She also shared that daily attendance was at 94.9% which was just short of the school’s 95% goal.
Additionally, Lodi discussed an update on the school’s playground project, explaining that they were waiting to find out when the equipment would arrive after they were notified that it may arrive a few months earlier than the original estimation of October. Due to this uncertainty, the school had decided to wait before making a final decision on utilizing poured-in-place rubber surfacing or rubber tiles for the playground’s base, she said.
Installation of the playground is anticipated in the fall, Lodi stated.
