Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools

Happy New Year!

Our typical vacation enjoyment was tempered by the tragic news of Jacoby Arruda and his grandparents who all died as a result of a drunk driver who crashed into their car on Christmas night. Although Jacoby had recently transferred from DRRHS to Seekonk, he was a friend to many students in our district. His grandmother, Donna, spread joy to many as a member of the cafeteria staff at Beckwith.

My thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends.

Together ... We Are DR!

Take care,

Bill

If you recall, the District started the Strategic Planning process last year by developing the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). I am very pleased to share that the next phase of our Strategic Planning initiative is on schedule for a proposal to be made to School Committee in late May/early June. Both our Strategic Planning Committee and our DLT have christened this process “DRiving toward 2030.”

I want to salute all who have been collaborative in this process since the Portrait of a Graduate kicked off in the fall of 2022. Now, I am asking everyone else to consider participating.

We are now at the stage of assembling subcommittees to build out the five foundational elements of the “DRiving Toward 2030” plan.

Participating is optional; and in my opinion, it’s not a heavy lift. We are probably looking at a maximum of three evening meetings over a 4-month period.

If you are willing to serve on a subcommittee, please take 2-3 minutes prior to January 8 at Noon to complete this Google Form. We will be creating subcommittees for each of the 5 focus areas (see below) and would like to know your top 3 subcommittee preferences.

Please be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, January 24 at 6pm for our next in-person DRiving Toward 2030 meeting.

DRiving Toward 2030 Subcommittees

• Funding and Facilities (Resources) - Sustainable fiscal health, facilities, and resources

• Safe & Healthy Learning Environment - Cultures that welcome learning and school environments where each scholar thrives

• Curriculum, Instruction, & Learning Outcomes - High-quality curriculum and instruction that results in future-ready learning outcomes

• Community Engagement - Enhanced school and community connections and family engagement

• Expanded Learning Opportunities - Learning opportunities both in school and community

We want to mention that the School Committee meeting held prior to break was a significant event. The meeting featured student recognition and highlighted our CTE program. We have many reasons to be proud of our accomplishments. Additionally, please find the link to the photos from this meeting.

Entering the winter months will certainly bring a change in weather conditions. Please be sure that your contact info in Aspen is up to date for texts, calls, and emails regarding inclement weather. Contact the Main Office at your child's school for any necessary updates.

For assistance with the Aspen Family Portal, please submit a Technology Helpdesk ticket.

Earlier this Spring, we released our academic calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Please take a moment to view it by clicking on this link. Our calendar has been thoughtfully designed to include instruction days, vacations, holidays, and Professional Development opportunities for our educators.

Please note that calendars are always subject to change, especially because of snow. The day that Beckwith and Palmer River were closed because of the electrical outage will need to be made up. Details will be forthcoming.

On behalf of Commissioner Riley, we would like to share this information with you that was distributed today to Special Education Directors.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has drafted certain updated procedures as part of its continuous efforts to improve its system of General Supervision under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These draft procedures include:

• Updated Approved Special Education Schools Office Monitoring procedures
• Updated Public School Monitoring Office Integrated Monitoring procedures
• Updated Problem Resolution System Office procedures

You can find the links to the draft procedures on our Special Education webpage. DESE is seeking public comment on these draft procedures. Please consider responding to the following questions when providing feedback:

• What needs to be improved about the procedures?
• What is missing from the procedures?
• What could be simplified in each document?
• What are the positive aspects of each document?

Written comments on the draft procedures may be submitted by:

• Survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7651351/Draft-OASES-PRS-PSM-Procedures-Public-Comment-12-23
• Mail (after 12/31/23, due to a pending relocation of DESE offices):
  Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
  Office of Special Education Planning and Policy
  135 Santilli Highway
  Everett, MA 02149
• Fax:781-338-3371
• Email: SpecialEducation@doe.mass.edu

The public comment period will close on January 26, 2024.

In addition, the Special Education Advisory Panel will meet to provide input on these draft procedures on January 24, 2024 from 9:00am to 12:00pm, including a public comment portion of the meeting from 9:00am-10:00am. More information about the SEAP meeting, including directions for providing public comment, can be found at this link.

We are excited to announce the implementation of a new Individualized Education Program (IEP) form for the 2024-2025 school year. To ensure a smooth transition, our Special Education Coordinators will undergo comprehensive training to become trainers. These coordinators will then conduct tailored training sessions for their respective teams of special education teachers and service providers. General education teachers will receive a condensed training to familiarize them with the new IEP format. Additionally, a parent overview will be offered by the district to enhance understanding and collaboration. To further support this initiative, our coordinators and special education secretaries will attend a specialized training with x2. We look forward to the successful implementation of this new IEP form, fostering improved collaboration and outcomes for our students with diverse learning needs.