Region One seeks substitutes
FALLS VILLAGE — Region One Assistant Superintendent Jeanine Rose reported “a great need for substitutes across the district” at the Dec. 5 meeting of the Region One Board of Education.
Region One will host recruiting events in January: Jan. 4 in Sharon, Jan. 6 in Kent, and Jan. 10 in North Canaan. Rose noted that college students who are home may apply; Region One will help with obtaining a waiver for the usual requirement of a bachelor’s degree. Retirees are also welcome to apply.
Region One Superintendent Lisa Carter reported that her office has received the New England School Development Council enrollment projections.
“Based on current enrollment, new births and projected births, most school districts can expect to see flat to modest growth over the next ten years, while a few can expect to experience a decline in enrollment.” The principals of the six Region One town K-8 schools will present the projections to their town school boards this month.
Housatonic Valley Regional High School principal Ian Strever asked for scheduling changes in January “in order to allow teachers to evaluate and provide feedback on midterm assessments.” Tuesday, Jan. 17, through Friday, Jan. 20, will be designated as half days. The board approved the request.
Strever noted that students will be presenting their Capstone Projects on Monday, Jan. 9 and Tuesday, Jan. 10 in various parts of the HVRHS campus. “All seniors must develop a project in order to fulfill this graduation requirement, and most of them are currently in the process of executing their projects” Strever wrote in his report. “ We invite parents and members of the board to join us for these presentations to hear what our graduating students are able to do before they even graduate.”
The projects include:
Recycling of bulletproof vest materials for school safety; composing a historical research essay and submitting it for publication; developing and publishing a creative writing and arts magazine; drone technologies and licensing; composing a bilingual comic book; helping the school apply for “Green School” status; building the social media presence of the school; reducing plastic waste in the cafeteria.
The board reelected the same officers for 2023.
They are: Pat Mechare (Falls Village), chair, John Sanders (Cornwall), vice chair, Jenn Duncan (Kent), secretary, Keith Moon (Salisbury), treasurer.
Committee assignments are as follows:
Ag-Ed Advisory: Jenn Duncan; Ned Gow (North Canaan) will serve as alternate
Arboretum & Landscaping: Pat Mechare
Budget Committee: Jenn Duncan, John Sanders, and Keith Moon
Building and Grounds Committee: Pat Mechare
Communication Committee: John Sanders
Personnel Committee: Pat Mechare, Sara Cousins (Sharon), Ned Gow
Policy Committee: John Sanders, Sara Cousins, Pat Mechare
All Boards Chair Committee (ABC): Jenn Duncan
The ABC is a committee of the chairs of the six town school boards plus the regional board. Because Mechare is also chair of the Falls Village board, Duncan has served as the regional board’s representative on the committee.
