November Newsletter

Happy Autumn to our Families and Community Members! Here are a few highlights from around the District:

• BHS established the 1st US Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in the Northeast Region on October 25, 2024. We are only one of 14 units nationwide!
• K-5 teachers are doing outstanding work in implementing a new early literacy program across all classrooms.
• Student envoys from Barnstable Intermediate School and Barnstable United Elementary School shared updates with the School Committee. BIS students talked about the school as a place for creativity, ambitions, developing bonds with classmates, enjoying having a different teacher for each subject, and feeling that the school is a welcoming place. BUES students talked about the "pods", which break the school into smaller units and that the school is a safe place for learning.
• Congratulations to all of our fall sports teams! We look forward to the winter season, as well as the upcoming theatre shows such as "Mean Girls" and winter concerts.

Ballot Question 2, regarding the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, has been approved by voters. What does this mean?

The question asked voters whether students should be able to graduate high school without achieving a certain competency on the MCAS exam.

Since the question passed, MCAS testing competency is no longer a requirement for students to graduate high school. Students must still complete all district graduation requirements. We are awaiting further guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The law goes into effect December 5.

However, MCAS testing will not be eliminated. State testing is federally mandated, so students will continue to take the MCAS exams on the current state schedule, including in Grade 10.

Please click on the title above to see guidance from our Health Services Department on respiratory illnesses that are prevalent right now and prevention methods.

The School Committee has migrated its policy manual to the BPS website. These updated policies now have the ability to be translated via the webpage.

The School Committee established a Facilities Subcommittee last winter and re-established the Subcommittee at its October 2 meeting.

The Subcommittee has been meeting every other week and has been examining the Facilities needs of the District and opportunities to apply to the Massachusetts School Building Authority under its Accelerated Repair Program and the Core Program.

The Accelerated Repair Program provides financial assistance to Districts seeking to replace aging roofs, windows/doors, and heat pumps. The Core Program is the avenue to pursue state funding/support for new school construction, additions, and renovations. Both involve applications called "Statements of Interest", which need to be authorized by School Committee and Town Council.

We will continue to keep the community informed as project ideas develop.

Facilities Director Doug Boulanger proposed $12,580,500 in Capital Improvement Projects for FY 26 to the School Committee on October 2, 2024. These projects involve important safety and maintenance upgrades including:

• Upgrades to the Performing Arts Center at BHS
• Gym Floor Replacement at BWB and BIS
• Mechanical Upgrades throughout BPS
• Additional portables to accommodate space constraints K-3
• Custodial Equipment
• Replacing Library Carpet at BIS
• Upgrades to interior doors at BHS
• Masonry repair at BHS
• Field house improvements at BHS
• Demolition of old portables
• Exhaust fans at BHS
• HVAC controls at BUES
• Locker room renovation at BHS
• Replace remaining acoustical ceiling tiles at BUES
• Network equipment for Infrastructure Technology
• Safety camera upgrades and maintenance

These proposed projects will be submitted to the Town and vetted through its Capital Improvement Process approval process. Projects which are funded would begin in FY 26.

We continue to remain vigilant in monitoring Indoor Air Quality across the District, including at BUES, but also at all of our schools. We are seeking the support of an on-call Mold Prevention and Environmental Health Services Specialist to support the District in prevention, treatment (if necessary), and professional training for up to three years.

DPH recently completed Indoor Air Quality Assessments at Centerville and Hyannis West Elementary Schools. This was not in response to any specific concern; it was a proactive measure to update their assessments.

Updates related to BUES continue to be populated on the BUES website for those who wish to follow along in our efforts to maintain a healthy Indoor Air Quality. I have added all messages issued from my desk to families for anyone who wants to follow communications about the incident and response.

Barnstable Public Schools is a member of Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, which provides professional development resources to schools across a broad variety of topics. They are continuing to sponsor a free Parenting Solutions Library, through a non-profit in Mansfield, CT.

They specialize in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed. A PDF handout is linked below.

BPS RedHawks Food Pantry located at Barnstable High School has reopened. If there are BPS families with food insecurities that would like access to this food pantry please contact your school counselor for more information.

Come out to support the Barnstable High School athletic teams at this year's Rolling Rally and Pep Rally.

ALL members of the Barnstable community are encouraged to attend. The theme is Red Hawk Pride! Come out and show your school spirit!

Event Timing: 12pm, Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Event Address: Main Street, Hyannis - Followed by a Pep Rally on the Town Green.

While facilities projects are occurring all throughout the District, there are a few major updates that I'd like to bring to the attention of our entire Barnstable community.

To read about our bus drivers please click on this http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/spotlight.