Supt. announces departure of JFK principal

School Superintendent Jeff Granatino has opened a search for a new Kennedy School principal to replace Kimberly Sefrino, who has accepted another principal position in the Lakeville school system.

Granatino announced the departure at last week’s School Committee meeting. He said Sefrino’s decision to leave was based on her wishes to be closer to her home in the Lakeville area and to spend more time with her family. She had been the JFK principal for the past two years and Granatino said everyone was pleased with her work.

Sefrino will remain in Canton for several weeks in September until Granatino names an interim principal. A search committee, made up of administrators, teachers, and parents, will be formed around Thanksgiving to interview candidates for the permanent position. Granatino said the JFK has a “tremendous staff,” which will keep the school on a good course until a new principal is named.

In other news from the August 22 meeting, school administrators were surprised at the number of new kindergarten registrations that occurred over the summer — enough to form a half-day kindergarten class at the Hansen School. As of last week, there were 237 students registered for kindergarten, up from 200 students on June 28. The total district enrollment is down by 25 students from a year ago.

* Curriculum Director Jen Henderson presented a report on curriculum work that took place over the summer as well as new initiatives for the coming school year. Henderson said the system will continue to implement Common Core programming with a focus on 21^st century skills and new science standards. Other programs include: Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement training — a new state requirement for all core academic teachers; the new educator evaluation training program; professional development for STEAM teachers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics); new math curriculum training for grades 1-2; additional staff training for the Keys to Literacy program at the Galvin Middle School; and training for collaborative problem solving and curriculum mapping.

* Henderson said the Canton Public Schools welcomed 39 educators to the district at last week’s new teacher orientation. She said it was the largest group of new teachers in the last three years.

* The committee recognized four JFK teachers, the school’s head nurse and an office staffer who all worked together in an emergency situation in June in which a water bottle cap became lodged in a student’s throat. School Nurse Susan Rogers successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on the student before the ambulance arrived. Also recognized for their efforts were teachers Heather Houtchens, Danielle McNamara, Margaret Surran, Betsy Persson and substitute office staffer Beth Kleinbauer.

* The committee asked CHS Principal Derek Folan to extend the school’s policy on parent notes for absences to include tardiness and dismissals. Folan said he will also review changing the policy on AP students taking final exams.

* In his superintendent’s report, Granatino said the school maintenance staff has worked to improve the outside lighting at the Galvin Middle School; the food services department will be offering a breakfast program at the Galvin; and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office has given Canton a $2,000 grant for security equipment. School Business Manager Ken Leon also reported that bus passes will now have photo identification.

* Canton Academy Coordinator Ed Amico reported another successful summer for the district’s enrichment program, which is now in its ninth year. Amico said there were 370 students who took courses and 99 percent of the staff were Canton teachers. Although currently a four-day program (Monday through Thursday), Amico said he would like to expand the program to Fridays for field trips or volunteer group activities.

* The committee will next meet on Thursday, September 12, at 7 p.m. The committee will tour the school buildings and look at capital projects starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 29 2013. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.