District Update #91

From Melissa Gerry, Chair of the School Committee’s Policy Subcommittee:

For the past four months, the Policy Subcommittee has been reviewing possible changes to the district’s cell phone policy.

As increasing numbers of students - and younger students - have access to cell phones, the School Committee felt it was important to review district policy. We need to be sure that the district is keeping pace with what researchers are learning about the impact of cell phones on children and youth and how our own students are actually using phones at school.

The Subcommittee has drafted a new cell phone policy, which the School Committee will discuss at its meeting this Thursday, 5/23/24. This discussion will be the “first reading.” The second reading and a possible vote will take place two weeks later, on 6/20/24.

In our research into student use of cell phones and social media, we have observed that family concerns related to limiting student access to cell phones tend to fall into several common areas. We are sharing the most frequent concerns below. On Thursday evening, the Policy Subcommittee will share what it has learned about how to address these questions effectively and sensitively.

If you have additional concerns that you would like the School Committee to take into account, please let me, Melissa Gerry, know via email at gerrym@pvrsdk12.org.

Afterschool schedule changes

What if my student’s dismissal plan changes? What if there is a change to a practice or game schedule?

Safety concern

What if something bad happens at school? I want my child to be able to contact me or emergency services right away.

Emotional support

My student has been struggling with anxiety and needs to be able to contact me for emotional support. How will they manage all day if they can’t reach me?

Access to technology

My student needs to listen to music to focus on their academic work. My student says the Chromebooks don’t work fast enough (or don’t allow them to take photographs in Ecology class, or don’t have the right apps, etc.)

Teaching responsible use

How will students learn how to use their phones responsibly if you don’t allow them to use phones at school?

Thank you for reviewing this list and sharing your thoughts. The School Committee’s goal, as always, is to ensure that the school environment consistently promotes student academic focus and well-being.

NES students created three-dimensional designs during the Playful Engineers events on DATE. BES students participated in a similar event on DATE. The Playful Engineering program was sponsored by grants from the SDFSFSDF.

As the Administrative Team continues its focus on improving financial management, the district has seen an increase in public and private grant funding.

We encourage readers to review this memo to the School Committee. The memo outlines the grant funding received over the past year. Since the date the memo was shared, we have received an additional $71,000 for Special Education services through careful completion of a Circuit Breaker Relief application to the state.

Pioneer student Jerad Goulston at Construction Career Day on May 2

Pioneer students not only participated but also won $500 worth of merchandise for asking vendors the best questions at the event! Well done, Panthers!

Construction Career Day at the Franklin County Fairgrounds is designed to expose students in Western

MA to opportunities in construction, trades, and manufacturing.

Learn more about MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board and contact their

School-To-Career Team.

Through the MassReconnect program, the state is now offering free tuition to community colleges for residents who are at least 25 years old.

This is a wonderful opportunity for town residents to earn that degree that may have eluded them in the past. If you know of anyone who might benefit from the program, please share the MassReconnect link.

Students from PVRS were once again recognized by the Interfaith Council of Franklin County and the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice for their work to promote a more peaceful society.

Students from the PVRS Restorative Justice Group who received the award include Raven and Lex Singh, Amelia Fowler Shaw, Elizabeth Brown and Natalie Johnson.

Congratulations and thank you, students, for engaging in this important work!

For news about our schools and programs, please click on the links below:

BES Buzz

NES Newsletter

PVRS Press

District Update

Teaching & Learning Update

PV Family & Community Connections

If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, or if you would like to provide feedback on other topics, please contact Patricia Kinsella, Superintendent, at kinsellap@pvrsdk12.org.