SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee this week unanimously approved a measure to begin the process of changing health insurance benefits.
Superintendent Dr. John Barry said the statute falls under MAGL Chapter 32B.
“This allows us to negotiate, plan and design this in an expedited fashion,” Barry said of the vote. “We are going to make changes in the health insurance we offer our employees and there could be a change in cost – it is not a trivial matter.”
The district has changed a bit since adding Granville and there are new employees to consider during negotiations. Barry said the vote is the “kick-off” to changing health insurance for next year.
Barry said another negotiation that now includes more employees is collective bargaining. Barry said that negotiation will be part of the district’s Race to the Top bid.
“Maureen (Wilson, assistant superintendent) is doing a lot of the work for this and is doing a good job,” said Barry.
Part of the program includes a change in the way teachers and administrators are observed and evaluated.
“It takes the previously planned observations off the table,” said Barry. “The evaluations will all be based on unannounced observations.”
Barry said 50 percent of district staff, including administrators, need to be evaluated for Race to the Top.
Race to the Top is an initiative of President Barack Obama that challenges states to advance reforms around four specific areas: Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.
Awards in Race to the Top will go to states that are leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform. Race to the Top winners will help trail-blaze effective reforms and provide examples for states and local school districts throughout the country to follow as they too are hard at work on reforms that can transform schools for decades to come.
