WHS 2009- A Progress Report

Curriculum Update

•Amanda Lecaroz, WHS Curriculum Consultant, has presented to the School Board and the town, a refined curriculum plan for curriculum structure and scheduling at the new high school.
•Small learning communities will be the means by which the curriculum is delivered.
•A modified block scheduling approach will be used thus offering students one day of the week where they attend all classes and the rest of the week they will attend each course for 80 minute classes twice a week all year.
•Features of the curriculum include initiating a Freshmen Academy, implementing student advisory periods which would encourage student/teacher mentoring opportunities and a strong literacy presence in all classes.

WHS Partnerships

•Dean Joseph Burns, Academic Vice President of Undergraduate Affairs at Boston College shared information surrounding the partnership agreement entered into between BC and WHS.  The partnership will provide a collaborative approach to exploring topical issues with students from both schools as well as a mutually beneficial partnership for providing professional development for respective teaching staffs.  BC is excited to provide professional development to WHS staff as well as share resources and staff with WHS students. 

Athletic Committee Update

•Currently, WHS will have one multi-purpose gym, a football field, a soccer field, a baseball diamond and a softball diamond.  The fields will be grass with irrigation systems, but will not have any lights for games after dark.
•The Committee had previously determined that the fields currently budgeted for the WHS site are not enough to meet the needs of the proposed athletic offerings and presented a recommendation to remedy this deficiency. The School Board had unanimously accepted the vision for athletic facilities at WHS as presented by the Athletic Committee.
•Two conceptual Master Plans for athletic facilities were presented with estimated  associated costs provided by Appledore Engineering.
•A preliminary estimate of approximately $6 million for the athletic needs of WHS consists of the following:

o An athletic stadium that consists of a multi-purpose, turf field with lights, a track, bleachers and bathrooms.
o Additional baseball and softball diamonds.
o A 60’x110’ second gym.

•One of the conceptual master plans, which included space allocation for a proposed future middle school and necessary fields, recommended that the School Board negotiate with the Town to use a small portion of the Gage property. This recommendation is based on placing the stadium within close proximity to WHS to leverage the use of the existing parking lots, building facilities and provide optimal safety for spectators. The additional baseball and softball diamonds would be placed on the current WHS site.
•The School Board has not made any decisions about the information presented and will consider it at a later date.

Construction Update

•Over 60% of the building foundation has been poured.
•Steel construction is scheduled to begin at the end of October and will take about three months to complete.
•Public access is restricted as it is an active construction site.

Integration Committee Update

•A forum was held on Monday, October 15, 2007, for parents of Windham’s students transitioning from Salem High to Windham High.  Parents and students were given the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns surrounding their current 8th, 9th and 10th grade students who will move into WHS as sophomores, juniors and seniors. 
•A student forum for Windham’s 9th and 10th graders will be led by Dr. Bass and Amanda Lecaroz at Salem High on November 15. The purpose of this forum is to share information and address questions and concerns from the students.
•Dr. Bass stressed that additional parent and student meetings will be planned to keep an active and continuous dialog between those affected by transition and school administration.
•Superintendent of Salem Schools, Mr. Michael Delahanty, has asked parents of Windham’s 9th and 10th graders to send a letter of intent for students interested in remaining at Salem High after Windham High opens.  The letter should be sent to Salem School District by May 1, 2008.

The preceeding has been an informational report from the School Board’s Communication Committee keeping residents informed on the status of the Windham High School project.