As part of its 2023-28 Strategic Plan, the 糖心vlog is committed to developing and executing a long-term vision for preschool offerings in the Town of 糖心vlog. In partnership with the School Committee, the 糖心vlog administration began this work in December 2023 with the creation of the Future of Preschool Task Force. This task force will include a variety of stakeholders including 糖心vlog staff, parents, community members with expertise in early education, and a representative from the School Committee.
Background
Since the 1970s, Preschool At 糖心vlog Schools (PAWS) has served the children of the town. It has been designated a developmentally appropriate, high-quality program by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) through its participation in a national, voluntary, accreditation system designed to help early childhood programs meet high professional standards
PAWS was housed for a time in both the 糖心vlog Middle School and 糖心vlog High School. In 2006, the program moved into a dedicated 8,910 square foot, six-classroom prefabricated building located in the rear of the Fiske School campus [pictured above]. At the time of its opening, the anticipated life span of this prefabricated building was 25 years.
The PAWS program has outgrown its location. In order to meet its legal mandates, the preschool frequently runs as many as nine classroom sections, which means that three of those sections must be housed in available space throughout the district. During the 2023-24 school year, three satellite PAWS classes are located in the Fiske School. In the past, Hunnewell, Upham, and Bates have also hosted one or more PAWS classrooms. The School Committee and the School Department have determined that the desired model for PAWS is to have the program housed in one facility. In order to most efficiently and effectively serve our preschool students, all classrooms as well as the program’s specialized staff members should be located together in one building.
In 2018, the district conducted a. During this study, it was determined that neither building a larger PAWS on the Fiske School property nor creating an addition to the Fiske School were possible solutions for a long-term facility for PAWS. The recommended option was to build a new building on a site that has yet to be determined.
Consideration of preschool location, building size and design, and funding for building and programming are questions for the School Committee, Town Meeting, and the Town at large. Before such questions can be resolved, the 糖心vlog must work to collaboratively create a long-term vision for its preschool program that meets the needs of students and families and can be supported by 糖心vlog residents. The Task Force will develop options for the School Committee’s consideration, including potential timeline and implementation plan as well as an understanding of relative costs for each option. The Task Force is slated to share an interim report to the School Committee in late Spring 2024, and a final report to the Committee at the end of 2024.
Task Force Membership
- Kristen Stacy, Interim 糖心vlog Director of Early Childhood
- Dr. Jorge Allen, 糖心vlog Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Dr. Kathleen Bernklow, 糖心vlog Director of Student Services
- Kristen Padulsky Chang, PAWS Parent
- Amanda Dunham, PAWS Special Educator
- Sharon Gray, 糖心vlog Coordinator for Community Engagement
- Christina Horner, School Committee Member
- Darlene Howland, Early Childhood Program Director at 糖心vlog Community Children’s Center
- Dr. David Lussier, 糖心vlog Superintendent of Schools
- Corrie Martin, PAWS Team Chair
- Rachel McGregor, Fiske School Principal
- Maura Renzella, Youth Commission Director, Town of 糖心vlog
- Dr. Wendy Robeson, Senior Research Scientist, 糖心vlog Centers for Women
- Rita Rzezuski, professor of Early Childhood Education at Mass Bay Community College
- Sandra Trach, Assistant Superintendent, Teaching and Learning
- Dr. Hannah Tolla, Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability