SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District had their first school committee meeting on Thursday Aug. 25.
With the school year quickly approaching and a Sept. 1 start date, there were a variety of topics discussed.
Superintendent Jen Willard noted the use of social media during the meeting such as Southwick Regional High School Principal Joseph Turmel taking it upon himself to create his own Twitter feed. Turmel will be using it in effect to connect with families about update events going on at the high school.
Willard said that the posts on Turmel’s Twitter feed could be anything from the basic needs for MCAS testing, the next school play, or the big football game coming up.
Turmel will also be holding meetings with his staff and the community for feedback of the block schedule format they have at the high school.
According to Willard, members of the school committee did a tour of all the schools to see what has been done during the summer.
Southwick Superintendent Jen Willard speaking at a Select Board meeting on August 22. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Willard was quick to point out what the custodians have done with the buildings in preparation for the upcoming school year.
“I’ve been able to watch the progress that the custodians have made from the beginning of the summer to now,” said Willard. “They just need a big shout out because they’ve done a beautiful job and the school committee recognized that.”
With the the progress detailed in the first school committee meeting, Willard also expects there to be more progress to report in their next meeting on Sept. 6 based on what she has already experienced.
“People were just talking about the energy that they’re feeling here in the community,” said Willard.
For the meeting on Sept. 6, Willard has already announced that she will be sharing her entry plan, goals for the year, and also two studies that she has been working on.
One study is a transportation study while the other is a school utilization study. John Kennedy of NESDEC, out of Marlborough, Mass. will be present for the Sept. 6 meeting to discuss more about the school utilization study.
Each of the discussions that Willard has during the upcoming school committee meetings will only help her become more involved with the community she is a part of.
“It’s really getting to know all three communities and what makes each unique but what makes us all the same,” said Willard. “I’m spending a lot of time just truly understanding what makes each town special.”
