RUSSELL – The School Committee voted to confirm Kurt Garivaltis of Pittsfield as the new Director of Pupil Services at its meeting on Wednesday. The vote was 12 for confirmation, with Montgomery member Anne Marie Buikus abstaining.
The meeting at Russell Town Hall followed a Meet and Greet with Garivaltis at Gateway earlier in the evening, at which about 20 members of the community, parents, and teachers were invited to ask questions and introduce themselves.
Both the Meet and Greet and vote were scheduled at the last School Committee meeting on June 22, in order to give the community the time to reflect on Garivaltis’ openness about his past addiction to prescription painkillers following a serious snowmobiling accident in 2006.
At the Meet and Greet, Garivaltis introduced himself, and went over his experience in the field, as well as the story of his accident and subsequent difficulties.
Following this introduction, the questions turned to the special education programs in the school district. Garivaltis said the state just completed its Coordinated Program Review (CPR) of Gateway, giving him additional direction to get started on the program.
He said his style is not one of being in an office, but being very “hands on.” He said he found the Gateway district attractive because of its size and scope, similar to the Berkshires where he grew up and previously worked in the Adams-Cheshire district.
Garivaltis then introduced his former colleague Chris Tamburrino, Life Skills Program Teacher at Adams-Cheshire, who surprised him at the meeting.
“He’s phenomenal. I owe my career to him,” Tamburrino said. He said they started the Life Skills Program together, and Garivaltis taught him how to run a program, and work with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). “He’s incredible with parents, and will know every student. The best of the best,” Tamburrino added.
School Committee chair Michele Crane asked Garivaltis what his goals are in working with parents.
“To be respectful first, professional second. To develop relationships with all my parents. That’s why it’s important that the district is small,” he said, adding that he will be accessible to parents. “My cell phone will be on for parents evenings and weekends,” he added.
Garivaltis said the processes for parents having problems with their child’s IEP include interviews, mediation, hearings and appeals. “I have never been to a hearing. We didn’t need to go to hearing,” he said.
Former Gateway special education teacher Bill McVeigh asked Garivaltis if it were true that he didn’t have special education classroom experience. Garivaltis said that he came up as an administrator, but he has four years of experience teaching graduate special education courses to teachers.
McVeigh also said that one of his problems while teaching was working with regular education staff.
“How do you get them to read the IED plan and provide those services,” he asked.
Garivaltis said that in the state CPR review, Gateway was cited for its general education staff not having received sufficient education in the special education laws, and also not enough staff training in the middle and high school.
“That is one of the things that I will do in response to the CPR,” he said.
Following the questions and answers, parent and Russell School Committee member Heather Morgan said she felt fine about the candidate.
“I like how he does seem to know the law. As a parent, I know I’ll be talking to him and contacting him. He seems very reachable, and easy to talk to. Just seems like a regular person,” Morgan said.
“I’m grateful for the honor and privilege to serve the families and students of Gateway, hopefully for a long, long time,” Garivaltis said after being confirmed.
