I hope that this message finds you well and enjoying your summer.  I am again honored and excited to welcome you back to another school year.  As is always the case, this one is filled with the great promise of assisting our children realize their full potential while creating environments that are rich with caring, compassion and multiple opportunities to experience success. 

This is another pivotal year for our district given what we have achieved over the past few years and the new realities associated with the ever-changing, accountability standards being used to view public schools at the national, state and local levels.  Our district's ability to meet the expectations associated with teaching and learning is critical to our present and future success.

In an attempt to summarize the agenda for the 2009-2010 school year, I offer that we will continue in our efforts to create and maintain a district culture and climate that is conducive to teaching and learning, expand and enhance our communication efforts both internally and externally, provide comprehensive and multifaceted professional development opportunities for all staff, support teaching and learning by examining instructional practices in meaningful ways, continue to integrate technology to support high quality instruction and to become more efficient in our use of time and resources.  A complete listing of the priorities for the coming year is summarized in the annual publication entitled School Year Priorities.  This, along with other important information about the 2009-2010 school year, may be viewed at www.rsd17.org.

While these activities represent some of the most significant work that will take place in the coming year, they pale in comparison to the two things that I believe are the most critical to our continued success as a school district.  One, we must continue our commitment to maintain a district that is known for excellence in teaching and learning for all students.  This excellence is best reflected in maintaining supportive learning environments for all students, delivering high quality instruction, practicing continuous assessment of both teaching and learning and engaging in open and honest communication with parents and others who choose to associate with their schools. 

 

Second, we must continue to provide opportunities to have meaningful conversations around teaching and learning.  These conversations will provide both the necessary creative tension and the information sharing so critical to our continued growth as a learning organization.  While these two things may seem a bit obvious, I believe they are among the most important ingredients necessary to ensure that all children learn. 
As I am sure you will concur if you have been a part of this district for any length of time, we have cultivated something very special.  Together as a community, we have emerged each year much stronger and more committed to our children.  We have experienced challenges that we have met and overcome.  We have learned much about each other, what we believe in for children and what we can accomplish if we remain together as equal partners in the educational process.

 If you are new to the district, you are now associated with a school district which has transformed itself into one that is recognized state-wide for excellence in public education.  We have defined who we are as people and professionals, clearly articulated our vision, and have fostered relationships where they mean the most.  
 
Last year, we articulated that believing in something leads to achieving it.  The act of believing in our students and each other has resulted in numerous successes and is sure to lead to many more as we continue or work together this year.  This year, our slogan will be "Transforming Teaching and Learning."

As I reflected on what our district slogan would be for this year, I could not help but think of the enormous changes that have taken place in public education.  What was dubbed the "back to basics" movement in the 1990's has now become the era of the "21st Century Skills" development model.  What we now know about the brain, how children learn, and what practices are the most effective in schools have led to systematic changes in how we practice our profession. In the schools of today, we have transformed from a "factory model" to a new "Right Brained World" (Pink, 2005).  Daniel Pink summarizes our current need to transform when he wrote "Until recently, the abilities that led to school success in school, work, and business were characteristic of the left hemisphere.  They were the sorts of linear, logical, analytical talents measured by SATs and deployed by CPAs.  Today, those capabilities are still necessary; they're no longer sufficient.  In a world upended by outsourcing, deluged with data, and chocked with choices, the abilities that matter most are now closer in spirit to the specifics of the right hemisphere - artistry, empathy, seeing the big picture, and pursuing transcendent." 

 

Don't misunderstand the point I am attempting to make as I introduce the concept of transforming our classrooms. First, I believe that nothing will ever replace high quality instruction using differentiated means. This is necessary to ensure that the needs of all children are met. My belief in our need to transform lies in an understanding of the significant changes in our world that serve as our immediate challenge as we work diligently to prepare our students for what they will navigate as their world. We must continue to perfect our instructional practices while introducing a shift to the traditional education framework we all know and understand.  Again, Daniel Pink writes "That to flourish in this age, we'll need to supplement our well-developed high tech abilities with aptitudes that are high concept and high touch.  High concept involves the ability to create artistic and emotional beauty, to detect patterns and opportunities, to craft a satisfying narrative, and to come up with inventions the world didn't know it was missing.  High touch involves the capacity to empathize, to understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find joy in one's self and to elicit it in others, and to stretch beyond the quotidian in pursuit of purpose and meaning."  

        
As I reflect on opening my sixth school year as your Superintendent, I am humbled by the honor I have to lead this district.  I am motivated by its energy and commitment to excellence.  I stand in awe of the sense of wonder and excitement that comes with another school year. 

I am forever optimistic that we will achieve what we have set out to achieve if we work together.

I wish you well as you enjoy the remaining days of your summer and look forward to our continued work together in the new school year.

Should you wish to speak to me directly at any time, please do not hesitate to contact me or feel free to stop into my office at your convenience.

I remain.

Very Truly Yours,

Gary
Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools
Regional School District 17
(860) 345-4534
http://www.rsd17.org
"Transforming Teaching and Learning"
      

 REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 17
2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR PRIORITIES
 
GOAL AREA I:         Improve the Culture and Climate of the District
 
 Objective 1.1:  Implement behavioral support program/system K-12 in response to student discipline data

Objective 1.2:  Continue to expand recognition of achievements and successes of students and staff

Objective 1.3:  Continue to expand comprehensive employee wellness program 

 

Objective 1.4:  Expand team building opportunities for district leadership team

Objective 1.5:  Expand Sister School initiative in alignment with district Strategic Plan

Objective 1.6:  Implement Speakers' Bureau initiative in alignment with district Strategic Plan

Objective 1.7:  Further develop focus on improving and ensuring efficiency of all district operations

Objective 1.8:  Review all business procedures to ensure accountability, efficacy and efficiency

Objective 1.9:  Complete a Business Manual for use by all administrators

Objective 1.10:   Implement training in AEDs and other emergency equipment and procedures in all schools

Objective 1.11:  Expand functions of district safety committee and establish building-based Safety Committees

Objective 1.12:  Implement aspiring, educational leader program
 
GOAL AREA II:        Positively Affect Teaching and Learning in the District
 
Objective 2.1:  Expand comprehensive K-12 Professional Development Plan with specific focus on hosting reading and mathematics summits

Objective 2.2:  Expand District Assessment Plan K-12

Objective 2.3:  Maintain comprehensive building-based Instructional Improvement Plans to inform necessary changes to instruction

Objective 2.4:  Maintain specific plans for improvement to address student performance on Connecticut Mastery Testing, Connecticut Academic Performance Testing and other standardized assessment measures

 

Objective 2.5:  Maintain comprehensive In-School Suspension program

  
Objective 2.6:  Create opportunities for curriculum and instruction articulation Kindergarten through Grade 12

Objective 2.7:  Embed the Understanding by Design Model and the 21st Century Skills Model into Curricular Revision Process

Objective 2.8:  Expand system to ensure vertical articulation in all curricular areas K-12

Objective 2.9:  Finalize and implement Scientific Research-Based Interventions processesin all schools

Objective 2.10: Implement a new instructional schedule at Haddam-Killingworth High School

Objective 2.11: Secure and direct American Resource Recovery Act grant funds to planned uses

Objective 2.12: Ensure consistent, frequent use of classroom "Walk Through's", informal observations and formal observations as techniques to support teaching and learning
 
GOAL AREA III:    Integrate the Use of Technology in All Functions of the School District
 
Objective 3.1:  Purchase, acquire and install technology in all schools in accordance with
technology acquisition plan and District Technology Plan

Objective 3.2:  Implement automated facilities management program (SchoolDude, Microsoft Project)

 

Objective 3.3:  Maintain revised district and school websites and ensure use of websites by all teaching staff

Objective 3.4:  Implement infrastructure upgrades at BES and HES

Objective 3.5:  Implement use of electronic student portfolios

Objective 3.6:  Maintain electronic grading and progress reporting system at all schools

Objective 3.7:  Implement use of software to support Scientific Research-Based Interventions processesin all schools

Objective 3.8:  Implement use of IPod lab for World Language instruction at Haddam-Killingworth High School

Objective 3.9:  Implement automated time management system for various staff unit.
 
GOAL AREA IV:       Implement Meaningful Communication Strategies
 
Objective 4.1:  Establish and maintain a Superintendent's Advisory Panel

  
Objective 4.2:  Maintain district calendar of events using a single software

Objective 4.3:  Revise and maintain high quality school and school district publications

Objective 4.4:  Implement use of opinion surveys from parents and staff at all schools

 

 

A reminder that the 2009-2010 school calendar is posted at www.rsd17.org.
 

Approximately seven weeks ago, the district contracted with an outside transportation vendor to review the preliminary bus routes for the 2009-2010 school year and to ensure that each was safe, met the criteria we established for timing and was the most efficient use of resources.  This process was delayed somewhat by errors detected in the electronic records we maintain in the district's student management software used to establish the bus routes for the year.  As of now, the routes posted at www.rsd17 are the final routes that will be used to transport students during this school year.  Any questions regarding these routes may be directed to Cathy Luisi, Interim Director of Transportation at (860) 345-8228 or by using her e-mail link located under the Transportation tab on the district's homepage at www.rsd17.org.

A reminder that the district utilizes the Honeywell Instant Alert system to communicate with parents during times of emergency or to deliver messages of high importance.  Please be sure that you are registered with Honeywell (link available at www.rsd17.org) and have indicated how you wish to have messages received.  If you have questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal of any one of our schools for assistance.  
 

If you wish to have announcements included in any Weekly Message or if you have any suggestions regarding the Weekly Message, please contact Gary S. Mala, Superintendent of Schools at gmala@rsd17.org.