Early Education Classrooms (2013-2014)

Sunday, 12 May 2013 17:20

Unfortunately, we will be moving a number of early education classrooms from our elementary schools to rental spaces for the 2013-2014 school year.  However, we are fortunate in that we have been able to secure excellent locations and classroom facilities for these programs.  The following classes will move for the coming year:  Pierce PK will move to the Trust Center; Lincoln PK will move to Putterham (Temple Emeth); Baker PK will move to Putterham; and the Intake Team will move to Putterham

In addition, a newly developed extended day program will be available for early education students at Putterham.

We are working to secure longer term commitments at both Trust and Emeth that will allow us to move classes from Brookline High School and Driscoll in 2014-2015, as well as to ensure that these locations will serve as a more permanent home for the foreseeable future.

I want to thank all of our early education staff members for their flexibility and patience during this difficult time.  We remain committed to providing an extensive and vibrant early education program, even as we move to locating more of the classrooms outside of our traditional elementary schools.

Merit Scholarship Winners

Sunday, 12 May 2013 17:16

National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 are presented to 2,500 students each year.  Winners are named in every state, in numbers based on the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors. 

We are very pleased to announce that Benjamin Doughty and Aaron Klein are National Merit Scholarship winners for 2013.  In addition, the following students were named Finalists in this awards program:  Samuel Burrington, Dimitar Dimitrov, Benjamin Eggleston, Sara Kang, Daniel Krane and Alexandre Lindstrom-Vautrin.

Robert I. Sperber Award

Sunday, 12 May 2013 17:16

In 1998, an award was inaugurated in honor of Dr. Robert I. Sperber, to be given to an administrator in the Brookline Public Schools who best exemplifies his ideals.  Dr. Sperber was Superintendent of Schools in Brookline from 1964 to 1982.  This award honors an educator who evidences excellence in both administrative management and leadership skills that have brought about positive improvement in the school system.

The 2013 Sperber Award recipient is Vicki Milstein, Principal of our Early Education Programs.  Vicki will be recognized at an awards ceremony to be held on a date yet to be determined (probably in June).

Ernest R. Caverly Awards

Sunday, 12 May 2013 17:15

Since 1984, the Ernest R. Caverly Award has been presented to Brookline educators in recognition of professional achievements and contributions to the Brookline Public Schools.  Two awards are given annually: one to a high school educator and one to an elementary school educator.  The award is named in honor of Dr. Caverly, who served as a distinguished public school leader, educator, and Brookline Schools Superintendent (1931-1964).

The 2013 recipients of the award are Cathy Fischer-Mueller (Social Studies Teacher and Inclusion Specialist at Devotion School) and John Andrews (English Teacher at Brookline High School).  The awards will be presented as part of the Brookline Education Foundation “Celebrating Teacher” event at Newbury College on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.  In addition, they will both present at the School Committee meeting on May 21, 2013.

Thayer Award

Sunday, 12 May 2013 17:13

Rachel Eio, World Language Teacher at Brookline High School, will receive the John E. Thayer Award for 2013. 

This award, sponsored by the Japan Society of Boston (JSB), is presented each year to an individual or institution demonstrating an exceptional commitment to Japan-U.S. relations, especially in education and community-level or person-to-person grassroots exchange.  

Rachel will be presented with the Thayer Award on June 6, 2013 at the JSB’s Annual Dinner.  

MATSOL Teacher of the Year

Sunday, 12 May 2013 17:12

Sima Kirsztajn, English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher at Baker School, has been selected as the 2013 Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages (MATSOL) Teacher of the Year.

MATSOL is a professional association of educators of English language learners in K-12 schools, adult learning centers, higher education institutions and the workplace in Massachusetts.  Their mission is to provide support and professional development to educators working with English language learners, and to advocate for the educational opportunities and achievement of all English language learners. 

The MATSOL Teacher of the Year Award was established to recognize excellence in the education of English language learners.  A teacher selected for the award has demonstrated:  (1) Successful teaching of English language learners as shown through evidence of best instructional practices and incorporation of students' linguistic and cultural backgrounds within the classroom; (2) Long-term commitment to the education of ELLs, as well as leadership roles at the school, district, and/or state level on behalf of English language learners; (3) Mentoring and supporting of new teachers to the field through both informal and formal induction programs; and (4) Strong relationships with the community and parents of ELLs.

The award was presented to Sima at the MATSOL 2013 Conference Awards Ceremony and Reception in Framingham on Thursday, May 2, 2013.

FY2014 Budget Addendum #1.1

Monday, 06 May 2013 21:10

This proposed addendum to the FY2014 Budget Message presupposes the approved recommendations of the original Message, along with items ratified as part of Addendum #1.  Moreover, as has previously been discussed with the School Committee, Board of Selectmen, and Advisory Committee, the options presented in Addendum #2 have been withdrawn and, therefore, are not considered part of the overall spending plan for FY2014.

Please click here to view the remainder of this budget addendum, which will be considered by the School Committee at their meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2013.

Events of the Past Week

Sunday, 21 April 2013 13:38

April 21, 2013

Dear Brookline Parents, Guardians and Staff:

The horrific events of the past week surrounding the Boston Marathon have been difficult to comprehend and have had a profound impact on our communities.  All of us have been touched by these acts in one way or another throughout these difficult days.  In particular, my thoughts and prayers go out to those of you who know someone who was slain or injured, to those who witnessed the Patriots’ Day events, and to those who were impacted by the subsequent events of the week.

Our schools are committed to supporting students and staff when they return to school on Monday.  While many will find the resilience to move forward with daily routines, others will have a need for assistance from family, friends, teachers and colleagues.  We will monitor and care for our students throughout the coming days, as well as continuing to review and revise our support systems as needed to best assist our students and staff.  Please feel free to contact our educators at the building level if you have any concerns.

The tragic events of the past week provided all of us with an opportunity to see first responders, law enforcement, medical professionals, and ordinary citizens at their best.  I have been overwhelmed by the many examples of kindness, cooperation and compassion that we have seen during these very dark days.  My hope is that the strength, resolve and caring spirit of the people of Greater Boston will be the lasting lesson of this horrendous set of events.

Please do not hesitate to contact your building principal, any member of our professional staff, or me throughout the coming days.

FY2014 Budget Addendum #2

Wednesday, 20 March 2013 22:28

Please click here for a copy of the FY2014 Budget Addendum #2, which will be presented to the School Committee on Thursday, March 21, 2013 prior to the budget hearing.

METCO and Materials Fee

Saturday, 16 March 2013 22:45

Earlier this week, I sent the following message to our employees:

"As you may be aware, a recent article in the online edition of the Boston Globe suggested that the Brookline School Population and Capital Exploration (B-SPACE) Committee is exploring the impact of METCO and the materials fee program on our enrollment and space issues.  While it is true that B-SPACE did look at the number of students enrolled in our schools through these programs, it is also true that the group has moved on to more substantive discussions about additional renovations, new school(s), and other strategies to increase available space throughout the system.  Simply put, the group did not find compelling evidence (either in terms of numbers or philosophy) to continue a conversation about ending the system's commitment to these important programs.

As Suzie Talukdar (Brookline METCO Director) said in her letter to METCO families, this article has provided me with an opportunity to reiterate my personal commitment to these programs.  Specifically, our administration has an unwavering commitment to the Brookline METCO and materials fee programs (current and future).  While we are certainly struggling with enrollment and space, we all recognize the benefits of METCO and materials fee to both Brookline and non-resident families.  We will work collaboratively to find answers to our enrollment and space issues that preserve our commitment to METCO and materials fee. 

Let me be clear - I will oppose any effort (and none currently exists) to reduce or eliminate the commitment of Brookline and our school system to METCO and/or the materials fee program."

In addition, Alan Morse (Chairperson, Brookline School Committee) issued the following statement following this Boston.com article:

"I deeply regret the misunderstanding created by my quoted comments in the recent Globe article.  As a long-standing supporter of the METCO program, I want to reassure the community and METCO families that my belief in METCO and its value to the Public Schools of Brookline is unchanged.  The B-SPACE Committee, as part of its charge, has the obligation to look at every aspect of the schools that affects our enrollments.  That is why we were discussing METCO, along with other agreements we have for enrolling students who reside outside Brookline.  That committee, along with the School Committee, recognizes that these are important programs for the schools.  Moreover, B-SPACE members recognized that neither METCO nor our materials fee programs are responsible for or could solve our enrollment and space problems.  For those reasons, they are not being actively considered for reduction or elimination."

It is my hope that these statements will clarify and reinforce the commitment that both METCO and the Materials Fee program enjoy in Brookline and with our School Committee and administration.

FY2014 Budget Addendum

Friday, 15 March 2013 07:57

Last evening I provided the School Committee with the first revisions to the FY2014 Superintendent's Budget Message.  A copy of those recommendations can be accessed here.

Budget Forums

Sunday, 03 March 2013 20:44

Peter Rowe (Deputy Superintendent for Administration and Finance) and I are pleased to announce that we will hold FY2014 budget forums on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, and Wednesday, March 20, 2013.  The March 19th session will be in the Baker School library from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., while the March 20th session will take place at Brookline Town Hall (Room 103) from 8:15 to 9:45 a.m.