The Halifax School Committee met in-person on Monday, May 9. Committee Chair Summer Schmaling began the meeting by opening it for public participation.

Elizabeth Antoine asked to speak on behalf of the Halifax Teachers’ Association (HTA). “We are here as the HTA to express that we are disappointed and disheartened at the School Committee’s role in the negotiation process. Your lack of compromise, good faith, and collaboration has brought negative consequences to our staff’s morale and most importantly to our work environment,” Antoine said. She mentioned that the school employees were the only town employees not to receive a stipend in 2021. Antoine said that the school employees felt that they were not valued.

A parent also spoke on behalf of the teachers thanking them for all that they do for the children of Halifax. “Please know that you are supported and appreciated by a large group of parents in this community,” she said. She pointed out that seven neighboring communities have all offered greater increases to their teachers in the last year and many of those communities have job openings posted. “I can assure you if you drive our dedicated teachers out of Halifax, no one will be waiting in the wings to replace them,” she said. Committee member James Keegan said that he took “great offense” at the suggestion that the School Committee doesn’t respect the teachers. The meeting was well attended and according to Schmaling there were residents outside holding signs in support of teachers.

Donald Cline also asked to speak. “We would like to run a fundraiser at the elementary school. My son, who is 16, has been shaving his head for One Mission for kids with cancer for the last six years,” Cline explained. He said that his son has also sold candy at baseball games to earn money for the cause. Cline, who identified himself as a cancer survivor, said that he and his wife have also shaved their heads for the last several years. Cline said his son has started a club for One Mission fundraising at the high school. A scheduled event will be held on May 22 on the town green where Teeka Lynne’s Hair Salon will be shaving heads or giving haircuts for a donation for One Mission.  “Last year, our fundraising team came in sixth place in the State with over $6,000 raised,” Cline said to rousing applause. He said that this year’s team has already raised over $6,000. Cline asked for permission to collect change at the school and hand out flyers for the event on May 22. Schmaling said they would run the request by administration and get back to the Clines.

Schmaling requested that the Committee discuss the use of the school logo by candidates running for public office. She said that a candidate was campaigning using the Halifax Elementary School logo in their efforts. “I just want to make a statement that the School Committee or the Elementary School or the Regional Middle and High School do not endorse any public candidate running for public office,” Schmaling said.

The Committee also had a discussion regarding supporting Silver Lake Regional and Plympton Elementary School Committee member Jason Fraser’s bid for Vice President of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC). “He’s just wonderful; he’s been a resource for us in the past,” Schmaling said. Committee member Gordon C. Andrews concurred. Schmaling said that he has a lot of influence at the State House due to his legislative work and noted that he was constantly advocating for the district. The Committee voted to endorse Fraser in the endeavor.

Superintendent Jill Proulx told the Committee that they had a request to change half days from Wednesdays to Thursdays. She also told them, “We have been informed by our Food Services Director that starting next year all school days students must be provided with lunch and that lunch must be provided in a congregate setting; the grab and go option will not be a possibility in the way that it has been in the pandemic.” As a result, Proulx requested a 12:45 release for specific, affected days. She did note that the day before the Thanksgiving break posed a particular difficulty but said that they would try and provide breakfast in a congregate setting on that day as well. Keegan asked why half days were requested to be moved to Thursdays and was told by Proulx that the request was made by the Kingston Teacher’s Association. Keegan said that he would like to hear from the Halifax Teacher’s Association as well. Antoine spoke up saying that Thursday was their preference as well. The Committee voted in favor of the calendar changes as presented by Proulx.

Proulx provided a few more updates including that the COVID 19 testing program has been extended through the remainder of the school year. She said that a change to chronic absenteeism was being suggested from 10 percent to 20 percent. The change was being proposed given encouraged absenteeism when children are sick since the advent of the pandemic.

Keegan provided a brief update saying that the school newspaper was up and running. He also said that youth and rec are trying to bring back a night at the Pawtucket Red Sox in July. He said that the department is also planning a fifth and sixth grade social to return to some pre-COVID normalcy.

Anne Sayles of Lake Street is the latest recipient of Plympton’s “Boston Post Cane.”   A tradition since 1909, the Boston Post Cane has been awarded to the town’s oldest citizen.   Happily, the event coincided with Anne’s 98^th birthday!

In addition to her age, Anne deserves recognition for her involvement in the town.  Over the years she combined her early training as an actress with her love of books to read “The Night Before Christmas” to the families gathered at the Congregational Church to celebrate Santa’s arrival on the Plympton Green and at the Plympton Public Library to help celebrate the season.

We are blessed to know her welcoming smile, ready wit, and generous hospitable spirit.  We hope Anne long enjoys her tenure as the holder of the Cane.

About the Boston Post Cane:  In August 1909, Mr. Edwin A. Grozier, Publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, sent a gold-headed ebony cane to the Board of Selectmen of several hundred towns across New England with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town.  The cane was to be used by that citizen as long as he lives (or moves from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town.  The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it.

Plympton, happily, has updated the cane presentation requirement to be all-inclusive.

Karen Foye
Special to The Express

Covid didn’t stop the Juniors from Plympton, Halifax and Kingston from having a spectacular Junior Prom hosted by a few parents who wanted to make sure their kids had this special memory. Karen Foye, Jessica Gouveia and Hannah Doehler got together and put on the Junior Formal 2022 for the class of 2023 this past Saturday at the Middleborough Town Hall in the Grand Ballroom. More than 225 kids attended the event, decked out in their finest tuxes and beautiful gowns. It was a beautiful night for the event. Parents, friends and school faculty were invited to watch the Red Carpet introductions of all the attendees hosted by Matt Foye (who apologizes for mispronouncing many of the kids names, at least it made them smile as they were being introduced).

Tickets for the event were only $30 ($40 if purchased after April 1) that more than covered everything needed to create this memorable event. DJ services, a photo booth and lighting services were provided by South Coast Entertainment, a giant light up PROM sign, balloon sculptures and centerpieces, candy bar, sandwiches, snacks, cake pops, fruit skewers and lots of water were provided. Karen Foye, from Foye Photography, also captured the night at the red carpet in both video and photos as well as setting up a formal photo booth for the kids to pose for pictures she will send to all the parents.

Two Middleborough police officers and 14 parent/sibling chaperones provided security for the event and made sure everything went smoothly.

The host of the senior prom next year will have a lot to live up to in order to top this event!

Play Ball! Season opens

Both Plympton and Halifax held their season opening celebrations last weekend – with children putting on their brand new gloves, picking up bats, some for the first time, to engage in that ancient rite of Spring – Baseball!   Below, kids and coaches put hands over hearts as Laurel Fallis, far left, sings the National Anthem.  Laurel is a senior at Silver Lake Regional this year.  Photos of Halifax’s Opening Day are on pages 8, 9. Photos by Karen Foye

The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met in-person on Thursday, March 17. Committee Chair Paula Hatch opened the meeting to public participation and parent Janet Stanford asked to speak regarding the book, “So Far from the Bamboo Grove”. A parent had raised concerns over the content in the book which spurred the creation of a review committee who was to investigate further and make a recommendation to the School Committee. Stanford read the passages in question, which included mention of rape, during the meeting. Stanford, who identified herself as a therapist and former guidance counselor, said there was no warning from a teacher that the students may be reading something troubling. She further said she would have hoped that an alternate book would have been made available to students. Stanford said she felt that the teacher’s response did not address her concerns and only defended the merits of the book. She had similar complaints regarding her conversation with the ELA Director. She did say that her conversation with Middle School Principal Jim Dupille went better but expressed concern that no one had suggested her daughter visit with a guidance counselor. “I understand that not every student is going to be upset by the book, but some may,” Stanford explained. Stanford also said that she was denied the opportunity to be part of the review committee. She also emphasized that while she was not in favor of banning books, she felt that it should be raised to the high school level.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch led the discussion on the review of the novel. He said the review committee was comprised of 11 members including the ELA coordinator, the middle school adjustment counselor, The middle school principal, three members of the School Committee, a middle school parent, a seventh -grade ELA teacher, an eighth-grade teacher, a librarian, and an eighth-grade student. “It was a collaborative positive meeting…we valued participation and everyone’s voice being heard,” Lynch said. “The Review Committee reached a unanimous consensus that “So Far from the Bamboo Grove” is an appropriate instructional resource for the seventh-grade ELA curriculum. The Review Committee recommends that teachers continue to communicate with parents about instructional goals and content being used in class. And the Review Committee reminds families that an alternate text can be offered to a student if needed per the district policy,” Lynch explained to the larger School Committee. Committee member Gordon Laws pointed out that the text could be triggering for students who may have experienced trauma and spoke in favor of parents having the opportunity to review the content ahead of time and select an alternative text if necessary. Committee member Leslie-Ann McGee suggested parents be able to access a syllabus at the start of the school year. The School Committee voted to unanimously support the review committee’s recommendation.

Dupille provided a principal’s report. He said that the Grade 6 orientation was held earlier that week and went very well. Dupille said that 12 of the school’s chorus students were selected to participate in the Junior District Music Festival in Scituate. Dupille also told the Committee about a new tutoring program that brings high school students in to help tutor middle school students who may be struggling in a certain content area. Dupille said that March Madness will be taking place culminating on Friday, March 25 in a pep rally, student vs faculty basketball game, and a dance.

High School Principal Michaela Gill said that the third Credit for Life Fair would be back in-person after being held virtually last year. Gill said the entire junior class would be attending. “I would really like to extend a huge appreciation for our advisors,” Gill said. The Fair teaches students how to make “real life financial decisions.” Gill also said that they kicked off their unified sports at Silver Lake in partnership with Best Buddies and the Special Olympics. She said they would be starting off with a track season this year with a basketball season to be added next year. MCAS have begun for ELA. Math will be in May and science in June.  Gill said that the CTE deadline will be April 1 and she told the Committee that nearly 50 percent of the eighth-grade class has applied to be part of CTE. She called it a testament to the program.

Senior Callie MacInnis, who will be studying mechanical engineering in the fall, spoke on behalf of the Student Council. MacInnis said she thought that the inclusion week that the school held went “very well.” She said that individual winter team sports would be having their banquets soon. “The mask optional after break has been going very smoothly in my opinion… the people that do [continue to wear them] don’t get criticism for it which I know was a worry,” MacInnis said. MacInnis also spoke out in favor of the book discussed earlier in the meeting saying that she read and studied it when in seventh grade as well and found it to be appropriate. She also commended the teacher’s communication with students regarding some of the potentially troubling material in the text.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch said that they recently had a professional development day with a focus on social and emotional learning and anti-bias training. Lynch said that 85 percent of the staff responded favorably when surveyed regarding the training.

Superintendent Jill Proulx shared version two of the budget with the Committee, first outlining some of the changes included. She said a middle school leave of absence would result in a $40,000 savings. There were several other small savings. She said that two high school retirements would result in a savings of $55,000. “The budget in front of you… is a net change increase of $2,000,” Proulx said. She continued, “The total budget is an increase of 3.74 percent – an increase of $1,020,066 more than last year.”

She proposed several reductions to fund curriculum coordinators for Grades 7-12 including an arts coordinator for Grades 7-12. Proulx expressed concern for the music programs. “We need to save the music, it’s the reality; the only way we can do that is by being like other elementary schools in our State and in our area by offering instrumental lessons for K-5,” Proulx explained. She also told the Committee that the administration would like to see the assistant principal at the high school restored to a 12-month position. Proulx said that they would also like to see a behaviorist at the middle school at an additional cost of $24,000.  If no cuts were made, the additional requests would bring the total increase to 4.068 percent.

Committee member Jason Fraser said he came into the night’s meeting prepared to support the increase of 3.74 percent. He said he would ask the Committee to think about the sustainability of the budget as well as the ramifications of bringing a budget increase over 4 percent to each of the town meetings. Halifax has expressed concern over their inability to support the regional budget. If forced to support it, it would likely mean decimating the Halifax Elementary School budget as it would be the only large town department not already at minimal funding. McGee said that it pained her to pit one town against the other two towns saying it went against the spirit of regionalization. She commended Hatch for getting the tri-town meetings together earlier in the budgetary process. The Committee voted to approve the 3.74 percent increase as presented in version two of the budget with Laws being the one dissenting vote. Fraser stressed that the Committee voted the bottom-line number but said it would be up to the discretion of the Superintendent to determine how to utilize those funds.

Fraser began his legislative update by saying that the Chapter 70 funds were being eroded due to charter school tuitions. He said that just as charter schools reach out to public school students to entice them to transfer, the law also affords public schools that same ability to reach out to charter school students. He suggested that the Committee “commission our administration over the summer… to maybe put together a pamphlet/flyer that they can send out.” He suggested the flyer include mention of the wonderful programs at the various schools. “To show what we have to offer,” Fraser explained.