Long-Term Financial Planning for Shrewsbury Public S...

To the Shrewsbury Public Schools Community, To ensure the ongoing excellence of the Shrewsbury Public Schools for years to come, the Shrewsbury School Committee recently brought in a third-party team, the District Management Group (DMG), to assess the financial health of the district.  You can find their report and other related documents on our long-term financial planning webpage ( CLICK HERE ).  DMG is an educational consulting firm that works with school districts nationwide to analyze educational budgets and assist with strategic planning.  DMG gave Shrewsbury high marks.  Residents of Shrewsbury can be confident that our schools are effectively managed, produce a high academic return on investment, and are currently delivered at a cost per pupil that is well below average to comparable schools in Massachusetts.   “The historical analysis reveals that SPS has consistently delivered strong academic  outcomes, performing in the top 15% of Massachusetts school districts, while spending  in the bottom 15%. SPS students outperform their statewide peers in MCAS scores  across grades 3-8 and 10, and students also demonstrate strong college matriculation  and graduation rates. This success has been achieved despite SPS spending 13% less  than its comparable districts and 18% less than the state average.” - DMG, March 2025 report In addition to looking at the efficiency and effectiveness of our schools in terms of annual budget expenses and academic outcomes, District Management Group also aided the Shrewsbury School Committee in creating a budget forecasting model for future growth over the next 5 to 10 years.  The purpose of this exercise was to project costs to maintain high-quality education from Pre-K to High School. The primary cost driver for Shrewsbury schools, like all school systems, is the cost of personnel. These costs tend to grow at a rate that is higher than inflation, due in part to the need to maintain a competitive environment in terms of recruiting high-quality teachers, which in turn drive educational outcomes for our youth.  DMG’s model demonstrates that the costs of Shrewsbury Public Schools’ educational needs are likely to grow between 4.7%-4.9% annually over the next decade.   Finally,  this report  also assessed risks and provided some recommendations for the District leadership and the School Committee to maintain a strong educational and financial footing. The three risk areas include:   1. over-reliance on non-local funds for mission-critical services; 2. evolving student needs, which may warrant additional services and costs; and  3. efficient staffing model that risks becoming stretched too thin.   The Shrewsbury School Committee encourages residents, parents, educators, and staff to review this important long-term financial planning document.  You may find this document on our website ( CLICK HERE ), as well as a slide presentation from DMG (CLICK  HERE ).  You can find these documents and more on our webpage regarding long-term financial planning ( CLICK HERE ). Questions may be sent to the School Committee members at  schoolcommittee@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us  .   Sincerely,  Jon Wensky, Chair Rachel Sharifipour, Vice Chair Erin Boucher, Secretary Sandra Fryc Lynsey Heffernan

Monday, Apr 14 2025

Enrichment Program Registration

Registration for the SPS Summer Enrichment Program, Summer Robotics Program, and April Vacation program will open Wednesday, March 12th at 7:00 AM.  To learn more about each of these programs and to preview the catalogs, use the following links. Summer Enrichment - for students currently in grades K-7 Cost: $100 week for each half-day class, Monday-Thursday 8:30-11:30 or 12:00-3:00 Location: Sherwood Middle School Summer Robotics - for students currently in grades 3-7 Cost: $320 per week, Monday-Friday 8:30-3:30 Location: Shrewsbury High School April Vacation Enrichment - for students currently in grades K-6 Cost: $100 week for each half-day class, Tuesday-Friday 8:30-11:30 or 12:00-3:00 Location: Beal School Additional Information ·      Registration will open in our enrichment software,  Eleyo , on March 12th at 7:00 AM ·      Financial assistance is available to qualifying SPS students ·      Enrollment is open to all members of the community.   ·      Summer classes require a non-refundable 50% deposit at the time of registration. The remaining balance will be automatically charged to your card on June 1st.  If you cancel your registration prior to June 1st, you won't be charged the balance, but you will not be refunded your initial deposit. The only exceptions to the refund policy are if SPS cancels the class, or if your child qualifies for educational services through SPS that conflict with a class you already paid for. ·      April vacation fees are non-refundable and the full fee is due at the time of registration. Contact Karen Isaacson, Director of Extended Learning, with questions:   kisaacson@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or 508-841-8727

Monday, Mar 10 2025

Message from the Superintendent: Honoring our core v...

February 4, 2025 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Recently, I wrote to you with information and guidance related to our schools and immigration law, based on questions that were emerging due to news stories about actions taken at the federal level (see that message  here ).  You likely have also seen recent news stories about other federal executive orders and communications related to the topics of “DEI” (diversity, equity, and inclusion), particularly with regard to  “gender ideology” and “equity ideology” in United States public school districts. As these have raised questions, I want to provide clarity regarding the role of the federal government in our public schools, and provide a reminder of our obligations under Massachusetts law and policy and our school district's policy.  I will summarize them here, and I am also including detailed information with links at the bottom of this message for those who are interested.  Please note: 1. The executive branch of the federal government has limited authority over local public school districts. State and local governments have authority regarding what curriculum is taught. 2.  Massachusetts has multiple state laws and policies that ensure  all  students who live within a city or town have access to a public education that does not discriminate based on individual characteristics, including race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. 3.  Shrewsbury School Committee policy recognizes the rights of students to study controversial issues in an atmosphere free from bias and prejudice. In summary, the recent executive orders at the federal level do not change our legal obligations under current federal law, state law, and district policy.  Beyond these laws and policies, our schools will continue to adhere to the   mission and core values of our school district .   Those core values state: “ We honor each person’s individuality, celebrate our community’s diversity, and support school cultures of mutual acceptance and respect.”  I am proud and grateful to be part of a community where our public schools work to provide  all  of our students with unconditional acceptance for who they are, where we strive to build a strong sense of belonging that is inclusive of the rich variety of human differences that our students, families, and colleagues represent.  Our schools remain committed to providing an excellent education to all of our students in a respectful, safe, and supportive environment. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools Additional detailed information: Federal government’s role in local public education:  The federal government’s authority lies with ensuring that local school districts are following federal laws passed by Congress and regulations issued to implement them, such as those related to civil rights (such as Title IX, for example).  For more information, see   this Education Week article , which notes a) state and local governments, not the federal government, have authority where it comes to what curriculum is taught, and b) there is a process that prevents the federal executive branch from unilaterally removing funding from a local school district.   Massachusetts state law and policy regarding educating and supporting all students:   Our schools are obligated to follow Massachusetts state law and policy where it comes to educating and supporting  all  students who live in a city or town and attend its public schools. Please note: Massachusetts General Law Chapter 76, Section 5  requires that  no student  shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. Our schools are required to adhere to the   Massachusetts state regulations on access to equal educational opportunity in 603 CMR 26.00  to ensure  equal access to educational opportunities and prohibit discrimination in public schools. The   Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s guidance on nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity  applies the Massachusetts state law  An Act Relative to Gender Identity  (Chapter 199 of the Acts of 2011),   which became effective on July 1, 2012, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. DESE’s   Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students  also provides a variety of resources “ designed to help schools implement state laws impacting LGBTQ students, including the state's anti-bullying law, gender identity law, and student anti-discrimination law.” Shrewsbury School Committee policy on the rights of students to study controversial issues:  We are obligated to provide an education to our students aligned with   our local Shrewsbury School Committee policy on the rights of students to study controversial issues  in an atmosphere free from bias and prejudice.

Tuesday, Feb 04 2025

All Schools Open on Normal Schedules – January 29

January 29, 2025 All roads and parking lots have been treated, and based on conditions all Shrewsbury Public Schools will be open on their normal schedules today.   The previously communicated restriction on staff arrival time has been lifted. Thanks as always to the Highway Division and Public Buildings Division for their assistance. Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Wednesday, Jan 29 2025

Important Information re: Our Schools and Immigratio...

January 24, 2025 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Over the past few days you have likely seen news about changes in federal policies regarding enforcement of immigration laws, including a change in the Department of Homeland Security’s own policy regarding conducting enforcement actions in schools.   Understandably, this information has created confusion, concern, and in some cases fear among many in our community. I am writing to you to provide some clarity regarding this issue.  Please note: Our schools’ highest priority is educating all of our students well in a safe and supportive environment. Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of federal agencies, not local school systems. Our school district complies with all local, state, and federal laws, including: A.  the federal law requiring equal access to a public education for all students, regardless of immigration status, as determined by the Plyler v. Doe United States Supreme Court decision (where school districts may neither inquire about nor consider citizenship status for enrollment);  B.  the federal and state laws protecting the confidentiality of personal and educational information of students and families (i.e., the  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Massachusetts law and regulations) ; C.  the legal rights of principals to control access to school campuses; and D.  the obligation to act in accordance with judicial orders. Our schools will continue to follow our protocol  to require a court-issued warrant should any law enforcement agency, including immigration officials, request access to a school campus for enforcement or investigatory action or request information held by the school.     We honor our district’s core values by providing all of our students with the best possible education within a safe and supportive school environment of acceptance and respect.  We do so in keeping with the longstanding legal doctrine of  in loco parentis  (“in the place of a parent”) to care for all of our students when they are in school.  We want your children to attend school every day so that we can meet our responsibilities to educate them.  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your school’s principal. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Friday, Jan 24 2025

Appreciation for Our Shrewsbury Police

January 9, 2025 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members, Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and on behalf of our school district I would like to thank the Shrewsbury Police for their ongoing partnership in keeping our students and staff safe.  I appreciate that Chief Anderson and his team, including our School Resource Officers, work closely with us on security and on issues that help us maintain a safe school environment.     I am grateful for the support that SPD provides to our schools and to our entire community. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools  

Thursday, Jan 09 2025

Please Read: Cybersecurity Issue

January 8, 2025 Dear Shrewsbury Families and Colleagues,  We are writing to share information about a concerning cybersecurity incident that has affected our school district and many others around the state, nation, and globe.  We have been notified by PowerSchool, the company that provides the student information system used by our District and many others across the country and world, of a cybersecurity incident affecting their systems. PowerSchool has informed us that this incident involved unauthorized access to their data systems globally. We want to share what we know at this moment about this incident and what we know now about how it has affected Shrewsbury Public Schools. We recognize that the information we’re sharing is concerning to all of us.  What is the issue?  PowerSchool has informed us that an actor compromised their company-level security, and that through this the actor was able to access many districts’ data across multiple countries. We have confirmed locally that this included Shrewsbury Public Schools. PowerSchool has assured its customers that the incident has been contained, that there is no evidence of continued unauthorized activity, and that they have taken a number of security steps to protect their clients. Our local review of our system supports this.  PowerSchool has expressed that:    1. They do not anticipate the data being shared or made public because they believe the data accessed has been irrevocably destroyed without any replication or dissemination. PowerSchool said it did not experience a ransomware attack, but that the company was extorted into paying a financial sum to prevent the hackers from leaking the stolen data. 2. They are working with a cybersecurity technology company to monitor the public domain to ensure the data was not and will not be reshared. 3. They are working with federal agencies to identify the actor(s) involved. What Shrewsbury Public Schools data was affected?  This incident resulted in the downloading of student and staff demographic data that is located in the Shrewsbury Public Schools PowerSchool system (including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, student ID numbers and birthdates, and staff ID numbers). The data did NOT include any passwords, credit card information, legal documents used during student registration, photos, or other educational or personnel information about students or staff. Student health records were NOT included, although if a health alert was included in a student’s demographic data (such as a food allergy) that may have been included.   Again, PowerSchool has indicated that they believe all of the data that was downloaded has been destroyed at this time. What are the next steps?  Because no passwords were accessed for student, staff, or parent portal accounts, and because of the process we use to log in to PowerSchool, there is no need to change your password at this time. We participated in a webinar hosted by PowerSchool’s senior executives today from 3pm to 4pm, and based on the information provided to us we ask that you note: There will be additional information available in the coming days and/or week as they complete a full investigation. PowerSchool will be providing credit monitoring to affected adults and identity protection services to affected minors in accordance with regulatory and contractual obligations, with more details to come. What steps should you take at this time?  While PowerSchool continues to investigate, we recommend the following precautionary measures:  Monitor your accounts: Keep a close eye on your accounts and report any suspicious activity to the tech support team in your building (staff) or email  parenttechsupport@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us  (parents).  Be cautious of phishing: Be vigilant about unexpected emails or calls requesting personal or school information. This incident is concerning to all of us.   We work hard to do everything possible to prevent cybersecurity issues with the systems that are under our control, and we are deeply concerned that this breach in the PowerSchool global system compromised some of our data. When there is further guidance from PowerSchool or other information we receive, we will provide you with an update.  You may also receive updates directly from PowerSchool.  If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Kadion Phillips, Director of Information Technology, at  kphillips@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us .     Sincerely, Kadion Phillips                                          Barbara A. Malone                                              Joe Sawyer Director of Information Technology      Executive Director of Human Resources       Superintendent of Schools

Wednesday, Jan 08 2025

Please consider a gift to support innovative education

December 30, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families & Community Members, If you are thinking about making year-end charitable gifts, please consider supporting our public schools in promoting innovative educational opportunities. The Shrewsbury Public Schools Colonial Fund provides resources for key initiatives that enhance our students' educational experience.  You can decide to dedicate your donation toward an area of your choice, including STEM, creative and performing arts, or career technical education. Please see the information below to make a one-time gift or to schedule a monthly donation.  No amount is too small, and every dollar will be put to good use to advance our mission to provide an excellent education for our town's youth. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools Make a difference where it matters most! By clicking one of the buttons below, you decide where your gift will have the greatest impact on our students. Not sure which area to choose? Let us put your gift will go towards the greatest needs. MAKE YOUR ONE-TIME GIFT HERE  MAKE YOUR MONTHLY GIFT HERE A little truly goes a long way! Join our amazing community of monthly donors who make small, consistent contributions throughout the year. These steady donations add up, creating a lasting and meaningful impact on the programs supported by the Colonial Fund. You can cancel at any time! Thank you for being a vital part of our school community and for helping us empower each student to reach their full potential. (Questions about the Colonial Fund or making a “Simple Gift”?  Email Kathleen Keohane at Kkeohane@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us )

Monday, Dec 30 2024

Superintendent's Update – December 20, 2024

December 20, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members, The snow has started falling, so please take it slow and be patient this afternoon with dismissal.  With the cold temperatures ahead it is looking like it will stick, and that it will be a white Christmas!  Whatever holidays you may be celebrating in the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy your time with family and friends and that the new year brings you good health and happiness.   As we end the calendar year, I remain very grateful to be part of the Shrewsbury community and to have the privilege of serving as superintendent of our outstanding public schools.  While there is no doubt that we are living through a complex time that brings many challenges to the work of public education, I continue to see our schools' superb faculty, staff, leaders put enormous effort into serving our students' needs in ways that are inspiring to me.  I am also deeply thankful for the support our families provide as partners in the work of helping your young people succeed, and for the generosity shown by our community.  One recent example was a $25,000 gift from Charles River Laboratories to help us provide innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), opportunities for our older students.  Another was this past week's $40,000 sponsorship from YATCO Energy to help purchase a van to provide access to career awareness opportunities such as job shadowing and internships for SHS students.  YATCO's Yatim Family includes many former SPS students, and I was touched by the remarks made by SHS graduates Mohamed and Hussein Yatim as to why their family is providing us with this generous support – I invite you to view this two-minute clip here so you can hear them yourself.   Most importantly, I am consistently impressed by our students.   Since school began in August, they have not only worked hard to meet the learning expectations set by our educators in the classroom from day to day, but they have also excelled in the many co-curricular opportunities our schools provide.  I am very proud of the accomplishments of our students in the visual arts; music and drama performances; robotics, speech and debate, and other academic competition teams; and athletics.  I am even more proud when our students give back to the local community through service projects.  One recent wonderful example that combines high levels of learning in the classroom with a desire to make a difference for others was documented in this recent WBZ news story , where you will see one of our SHS sophomores in the Class of 2027, Nichelle Thinagar, being recognized as one of only 106 students in the nation (and one of only two in Massachusetts) to be named a "National STEM Champion."   Nichelle was recognized for creating  an innovative science project designed to assist stroke victims, which was inspired by her grandfather’s situation.  Congratulations to Nichelle! As we close out 2024 and head into 2025, please note a couple of quick reminders: • This is a "no homework" vacation period , so no assignments will be due and no assessments requiring studying will be given on January 2, the day students return to school. • The School Committee is reviewing proposed updates to the district's bullying prevention and intervention policy and  plan , and intends to vote on each update at their January 8 meeting.  If you have feedback on these, you may send it via email to the School Committee at SchoolCommittee@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us.   Thank you for your continued efforts and support, and all the best for safe travels and a relaxing and fun vacation! Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Friday, Dec 20 2024

All Schools Open on Regular Schedules

December 5, 2024 All Shrewsbury Public Schools will open on their regular schedules today.   Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Thursday, Dec 05 2024