To the Old Saybrook Public Schools Community,
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. I wanted to take a moment to provide an update on the important work taking place across the district as we prepare for the upcoming school year.
In addition to addressing the recommendations Dr. Gabriel shared regarding literacy at Goodwin School, our administrators, teachers, and staff have been working diligently throughout the summer to strengthen our programs, improve our schools, and expand opportunities for student success. Below are several highlights of the work currently underway.
Goodwin School
Final interviews for the Goodwin Literacy Coach position are taking place this week.
We expect to finalize the hiring of the Goodwin Math Coach by the end of the week.
We have hired four new classroom teachers for Goodwin School. We received a strong pool of applicants and are excited to welcome four outstanding educators who bring a variety of experiences to our district. The Goodwin administration will introduce all new staff members to families before the start of the school year.
Planning is underway for a Goodwin Literacy Night this fall. Once the Literacy Coach has been selected, school leaders will work with that individual to develop the event and share additional details with families.
District and school leaders have been working with our collective bargaining units to restore spring parent-teacher conferences at Goodwin School. Once those discussions are complete, I will present a recommendation to the Board of Education. Any change will require formal Board approval because it would involve revising the school calendar.
Roof repairs at Goodwin have been completed.
Asbestos abatement work is underway and remains on schedule.
Planning continues for the Goodwin HVAC project. After receiving no bids during the initial process, the district plans to rebid the project this winter alongside the Old Saybrook Middle School HVAC project in hopes of generating more competitive pricing.
Old Saybrook Middle School
Design work for the Middle School HVAC project is progressing and is expected to be completed this fall. As noted above, the project will be rebid together with the Goodwin HVAC project this winter.
Old Saybrook High School
We have hired a new science teacher for Old Saybrook High School. The high school administration will introduce all new staff members to families before the start of the school year.
Our Business and Health Science classrooms are being upgraded and are expected to be ready for students when school opens.
A new dishwasher will be installed in the high school kitchen on August 5. While this investment supports our Nutrition Services program, it will also enhance opportunities for students participating in our special education life skills and transition programs.
A five-year evaluation of the high school’s HVAC systems is taking place this summer and will continue into the fall.
We are excited to share that Old Saybrook High School is planning a special community event this October. Additional details will be announced soon, but we encourage you to save the date of October 8.
Districtwide Initiatives
Summer Leadership Summit, July 29 and 30: This week, district administrators will participate in our annual Summer Leadership Summit. During these two days, we will finalize professional learning plans, curriculum work, MTSS processes, building goals, and other priorities for the coming school year.
This year, we have expanded the format by inviting our new Pathways Coordinators and Teacher Leaders to participate on the second day, ensuring that their voices help shape our work. Following the summit, these plans will be shared with all staff members for feedback, an important recommendation identified by Dr. Gabriel. Staff will have until August 15 to provide input before the final plans are shared with our faculty, families, and Board of Education prior to the start of school.
Special Education Program Audit: Consistent with Dr. Gabriel’s recommendations, the district is moving forward with a comprehensive audit of our special education programs. While the report suggested completing this work over the next 12 to 18 months, I have committed to beginning the process as quickly as possible.
We have already met with one organization that specializes in conducting these reviews and will continue meeting with additional organizations in the coming weeks. I will provide updates to the Board of Education and our community as this important work progresses.
Executive Function and 21st-Century Skills Framework: Last school year, administrators and teachers from every school formed a districtwide committee to develop a cohesive framework outlining the executive function and 21st-century skills students should develop at each grade level. This resource will help ensure that teachers and families share a common understanding of the skills students need to succeed. Once finalized, the framework will be shared with all staff members and families.
As you can see, our dedicated staff members continue to work hard throughout the summer to prepare for a successful start to the school year. We remain committed to continuous improvement and to providing our students with the highest-quality educational experience possible. We will continue to keep you informed as this work progresses and look forward to sharing additional updates in the weeks ahead.
Thank you for your continued support of Old Saybrook Public Schools. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming our students back in August.
All the best,
Chris Drezek
Superintendent of Schools