Plymouth School Committee Tackles Special Education Leadership, Alternative Programs, and Math Curriculum
PLYMOUTH - March 3 - The Plymouth School Committee has appointed Dr. Stacey Rogers as interim director of special education following the resignation of the previous director. The unanimous decision came during the March 3 meeting, where the committee also received updates on alternative education programs and math curriculum changes.
Superintendent Chris Campbell recommended Rogers for the interim role, noting she would serve "in her current capacity as assistant superintendent" while the district pursues a more permanent solution.
"We want to do it right," Campbell says. "We want to have someone in place for the time being internally and on an interim basis that could do the job really well."
Campbell assures the committee that additional support will be provided to Rogers to help manage her expanded responsibilities.
"I don't want to be doing wellness checks on her every day," Campbell says. "I want Dr. Rogers to feel in this interim capacity that she can do the job that we're asking her to do."
Committee member James Sorensen expresses confidence in Rogers' abilities, adding his motion to approve the appointment "with a great deal of confidence."
The committee also hears from Peter Parcellin, principal of Plymouth North High School, who presents his school improvement plan focusing on three main goals: aligning curriculum and publicizing opportunities, identifying at-risk students, and developing a vision of a Plymouth North graduate.
"What I think we need to go in the next three years is communicating out opportunities so that everybody can achieve those, and then creating more access for every type of kid to be able to reach those goals," Parcellin explains.
Parcellin highlights improvements at Plymouth North, including increased AP exam success rates, decreased suspensions, and higher SAT scores. However, he emphasizes the need to ensure all students can access opportunities, particularly English language learners, special education students, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
"When you look at our school-wide data, all of the water has gone up, but I don't know if everybody's getting that opportunity," Parcellin says.
Dr. James Demers, who leads the district's alternative education program serving both high schools, reports that his program currently serves 40-44 students who struggle in traditional school settings. Last year, the program graduated 30 students.
"It's a cost-saving program to the district," Demers notes. "A lot of these students in other districts are your high school dropouts, and if these students were to go to another program, it would cost the town double what it costs to run my program."
Demers highlights the program's focus on preparing students for life after high school, whether through college, military service, or employment. He also discusses the program's no-cell phone policy, which has improved student interaction.
"I find that the students are now talking to one another. They're talking to the adults in the program. They're talking to students out of their group that they normally would have never talked to," Demers says.
Math Coordinator Dr. Kelly Bitinas presents updates on the district's math curriculum, including the implementation of Number Corner in kindergarten classrooms and Illustrative Math in middle schools.
"We're seeing really great strides with it and the students enjoy it," Bitinas says of the Number Corner program, which provides kindergarteners with standards-based education during morning meetings.
Bitinas explains the district's approach to math instruction focuses on three components: talk moves (engaging students in mathematical discussions), choice (allowing students to solve problems in multiple ways), and equity (ensuring all students can communicate their mathematical thinking).
"Start with a problem, let them persevere, let them struggle through it, and then let them derive the conclusion themselves," Bitinas says of the district's approach to secondary math education.
The committee also addresses concerns about a recent Select Board vote regarding firearms in public buildings. Committee member Vedna Lacombe-Heywood raises the issue after hearing from concerned families.
"They wanted some clarification just regarding what that means for schools as they are public buildings," Lacombe-Heywood says.
Campbell confirms he has already sought legal counsel on the matter and suggests inviting the police chief to the next meeting to address questions before the issue goes to Town Meeting.
"I have sent that question to our legal counsel already to get an answer on that as well," Campbell says.
Other updates from the meeting include the approval of Cape Cod Collaborative Articles of Agreement, allowing Plymouth to become a member of the collaborative starting July 1, which will provide member rates for students participating in collaborative programming.
Campbell also announces that Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler will visit Manomet Elementary School and Plymouth South High School on March 13 to observe the district's Investigating Histories program and tour facilities including the culinary program and film studio.
The committee's next meeting is scheduled for March 17.