Superintendent Update
September 12, 2025
Dear Bedford Public Schools Community,
I am excited to share the 2024-2027 BPS Strategic Plan - 2025-2026 (Year2) Action Plan, approved by the school committee at their September 9th meeting. A summary of new projects aligned with our strategic objectives can be found here.
On a more somber note, I want to acknowledge the pain and loss many may be experiencing due to various recent and ongoing tragic events—local, national and global. We recognize that exposure to these events can affect our students and families in different ways. As a district, we do not typically issue districtwide messages in real time for every such event; we want to be careful about how information is shared across different age groups and school contexts (and unfortunately, such events occur and are widely covered with alarming frequency). We do, however, work to ensure that our counselors and educators are prepared to provide support for students who may be struggling and create spaces for group processing when appropriate. We encourage families to reach out directly to their school counseling staff if they believe their children may need additional support.
Best,
Cliff Chuang 莊 宏 毅
Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools
- September: Suicide Prevention Month
- September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 16: National IT Professionals Day
- September 18: School Committee Meeting
- September 20: Bedford Day 2025 & Flu Clinic (by appointment)
- September 23-24: Rosh Hashanah (begins at sundown previous day)
At their meeting on September 9th, the school committee ratified a new custodial/maintenance contract and approved the 2024-2027 BPS Strategic Plan - 2025-2026 (Year2) Action Plan. They also heard from our two assistant superintendents on their entry processes. The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 18th in the BHS LGI (9 Mudge Way) when the school committee is expected to consider the superintendent’s FY26 goals, the district’s capital expenditure requests, and updates to policies regarding home schooling and participation in extracurricular activities. The school committee meeting agendas, schedules, and supporting documents are available at School Committee - Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents.
At the all-staff opening day meeting on August 27th, School Committee Chair Sarah McGinley shared a statement with the entire BPS staff team, which may be of interest to the broader BPS community. This portion was particularly memorable:
As we open the 2025–2026 school year, I want to thank you—for your resilience, for your creativity, and for your steadfast belief in the potential of every student who walks through our doors. In advance of this gathering, I asked several parents of Davis and Lane students to share examples of what their children love about their teachers. Student answers – which I did not edit – included:
“They help you learn important stuff for the future of your life.”
“I loved my fourth grade teachers, they both really helped me when I was learning some hard
new things. And they found ways to keep everyone having fun in our classroom!”
“One thing I like most about my teachers is that they don’t try to teach everyone the same.”
And, finally, “They teach you stuff so you can become a great person.”
Read her entire remarks here.
Where you can make a real difference in the lives and futures of our students
- Director of Information Services Full-time | 12-month position | $110–135K + generous benefits
- Educational Support Professionals (ESP) Various positions district-wide | 33.5 hours/week | $28.18-34.64/hr + generous benefits
- School Crossing Guard 5 days/week/2 hrs per day | $21.81/hr
- Library Media Specialist BHS | School Year position | Teacher’s scale salary + generous benefits
- Substitute Food Service Worker District-wide | Per Diem | $18/hr
- Food Service Worker District-wide | 20 hours per week | starting range $18/hr + generous benefits
- 5 Day Building Based Substitutes BHS | 33.5 hours per week | $175/day + generous benefits
To apply please visit our website.
In alignment with the work of the Healthy School Hours Working Group (which will begin meeting next week), we share this opportunity to hear from Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright, psycho-therapists and sleep specialists, as they share their practical approach to healthy sleep habits for kids and teens. Your questions and concerns will help guide the discussion. Please write to Phyllis@startschoollater.net before (and during) the webinar. You'll learn practical ideas to:
- Create healthy routines to help your family thrive throughout the school year
- Alter family practices around phones, social media, and screen time.
- Comprehend the intricate link between sleep and overall health, encompassing physical well-being, mental clarity, and emotional resilience.
- Troubleshoot the most common sleep issues for school age kids
- Draw on an understanding of a teens’ night owl tendencies to create smart sleep habits.
- Opioid Survey: As part of a nationwide lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for their part in the opioid epidemic, the Town of Bedford has received Opioid Settlement Funds to be used for substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. Please consider taking the Bedford Health Department’s anonymous Opioid Settlement Fund Survey to tell us how you’d like to see the funds spent.
- Bedford Day Flu Clinic: The Bedford Health Department is offering free flu vaccinations on Bedford Day, Saturday September 20th, 2025 from 9am-12pm, by appointment. Click here to learn more and to sign up.
- West Nile Virus: Mosquitoes in Bedford have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). While no human cases have been reported locally, Bedford has been designated High Risk by the MA Department of Public Health. Please continue to take precautions—avoid dawn/dusk outdoor activity, use EPA-approved repellents, wear protective clothing, and remove standing water around your home. For more prevention tips and updates, visit the Bedford Health Department Mosquito Page