EAST LONGMEADOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The 2003 school year was a very rewarding year for our schools. First, many students in our schools were recognized for their academic and athletic talents. Additionally, many of our school and district programs and staff were recognized with state and national awards and recognitions. The National School Boards Association recognized our district strategic plan for our community schools. Each of our five schools’ Safe Schools Crisis Plans was recognized by the State Fire Marshal’s Office at its annual conference. Our School Committee was invited to speak at the Massachusetts Association of School Committees’ state conference regarding administrative performance evaluations. Our superintendent was invited to serve on the state executive board for school superintendents and also serve on the State Department of Education technology advisory board. School Committee members have also taken leadership roles within the state serving on such boards as the State Department of Education Health Advisory Board and the MASC Technology Committee.

The Federal No Child Left Behind legislation now requires schools to test and track student performance with great specificity. We are proud that East Longmeadow students have an overall attendance rate of 97% and less than 1% of all students receive disciplinary suspensions of any kind. This past year was the first year that all twelfth grade seniors had to pass the MCAS for a state diploma. 100% of East Longmeadow seniors passed the MCAS.

All schools in the Commonwealth were rated in performance using the terms: Critically Low, Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, and Very High. We are proud to report that our five community schools rated performance levels of High and Very High! Likewise, all schools in the Commonwealth were rated in improvement using the terms: Declined Improvement, No Change, Improved But Below, On Target, and Above Target. Again, we are proud to report that our five community schools rated improvement levels of On Target and Above Target!

Due to a weak economy throughout the state and nation, financial cuts in the school system budget became a reality in 2003. Our school budget was cut by $690,487. Many of the reductions were in supplies, textbooks, athletic funding, and clubs so that the core academic instructional goals remained intact. Preserving classroom instruction became our main goal. Future budgets are going to become paramount due to increasing enrollments because of rapid town growth. Our current enrollment has exceeded 2,786 students. The graph below shows the past five years of actual enrollments and the following five years of projected enrollments based upon cohort survival statistical data.

Our very first district-wide school department newsletter was designed and mailed out in the Reminder to all residents of East Longmeadow this year in October. We received a grant from the Department of Education to produce our semiannual newsletter each fall and spring. You can view our latest newsletter on our website at: http://www.eastlongmeadow.org/schools.

Finally, our school district started a two-year process called Curriculum Mapping. Much like a road map, curriculum maps are sequential subject and grade-level documents that describe what each student will be taught and should learn. This process promotes grade level articulation and accountability in all subject areas. For more information on our schools, please visit our web pages at www.eastlongmeadow.org.