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FY11 Budget Presentation Print
Written by Carl M. Ladd, Superintendent   
The budget presentation prepared by Superintendent Ladd for the Public Hearing held Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. in the Turners Falls High School.
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FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (FY11 Budget Presentation.ppt)FY11 Budget PresentationFY11 Budget Presentation1641 Kb
 
FY 11 Gill-Montague Regional School District Budget Print
Written by Carl M. Ladd, Superintendent   

 FY 11 Budget

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Download this file (FY11 Budget.PDF)FY11 BudgetFY11 Budget106 Kb
 
Executive Summary of Massachusetts' Race to the Top Application Print
Written by Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.   

Congratulations on being one of the 256 district leaders to commit to participation in Massachusetts' Race to the Top initiatives.  As you know, we delivered our application to the U.S. Department of Education on January 19, and Massachusetts is now anxiously waiting alongside 39 other states and the District of Columbia to see who will be awarded funding.

Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (Ltr from Commissioner Chester.PDF)Race to the Top Executive SummaryRace to the Top Executive Summary452 Kb
 
Superintendent Ladd's Race to the Top Recommendation Print
Written by Carl M. Ladd, Superintendent   

I am recommending and urging that both the School Committee and the GMEA sign the Race to the Top Memorandum of Understanding.  While there remain many questions yet to be answered, it seems short-sighted not to fully engage as proactively with the state as we can on all fronts – fiscal as well as educational.

The chief concerns raised by RTTT critics is that this is somehow a device for the state to “take over” school districts.  I would submit that the Ed Reform legislation is much more likely to be the catalyst for that possibility than this MOU. 

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School Committee Budget Process Print
Written by Superintendent Ladd and GMRSC   

GMRSD Budget Process


There are two parallel courses of action that occur simultaneously and collaboratively during budget building – a micro, or building-level, process and a macro, or district-wide, process.  Each process informs and guides the other throughout. The Superintendent, Administrative Team, and Staff are responsible for the micro process and the School Committee (in collaboration with the Superintendent) is responsible for the macro process.  The timeline for these processes is dependent upon the deadlines established by local district policy, the Massachusetts General Laws and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  These two sets of actions occur simultaneously and parallel to one another until they converge at the point of the preliminary draft district budget.  Throughout this process transparency and communication between the two processes are critically important.
This proposed budget process is not currently the practice within the district, nor has it been for some time.  For the past several years, the budgets have been “rolled over” and then adjustments made as necessary.  While that is certainly understandable and necessary at times, a more collaborative process breeds buy-in and ownership at all levels.  This is not a zero-based budget process per se, but it does not assume that everything that is in the current budget needs to stay in the next year’s budget.  Staff and administration will be evaluating programs and personnel and analyzing costs and benefits.

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Superintendent's Letter to Editor - September 29, 2009 Print
Written by Carl M. Ladd, Superintendent   

It’s been only three months since taking on the superintendent’s position for the Gill-Montague Regional School District. It has been a very interesting, challenging and encouraging few months.  I feel proud to be leading a team of such hard-working and skillful educators and have felt very welcomed by parents and citizens in both communities.

On Wednesday, September 30, voters from the towns of Gill and Montague will once again be asked to attend a district meeting to vote on a proposed school budget.  I would like to explain why the majority of the School Committee as well as the administration and staff feel that the proposed FY10 budget should be approved.

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Chapter 70 Aid and District Assessment Trends, FY00 – FY09 Print
Written by Kenneth Rocke   
Attached please find a ten year assessment analysis.
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Download this file (Microsoft Word - 10 year assessment analysis.pdf)10 Year Assessment analysis10 Year Assessment Analysis26 Kb
 
Creating New Educational Opportunities for High School Students Print
Written by Kenneth M. Rocke   

The discussion about increased regionalization of public education in Franklin County has focused primarily on reducing cost, rather than on improving education. Advocates contend that, through more comprehensive regionalization of school districts, we can get the same educational ‘product’ for fewer dollars, by collaborating on administrative functions, transportation, and low-incidence special programs. The fear among educators and community members is that forced regionalization may lead to diminished educational quality and loss of local control, with little or no savings in cost.

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Central Office Organizational Chart Print
Written by Robin Hamlett   
Please see attached document.
 
Chapter 70 Information Print
Written by Kenneth M. Rocke, Superintendent   
This spreadsheet contains key information regarding preliminary Chapter 70 revenue estimates from the Governor’s (House I) budget.
Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (State Chap. 70 worksheets preliminary 2.4.09.xls)State Chapter 70 worksheets preliminary 2.4.09 1437 Kb
 
School Choice Analysis Print
Written by Kenneth Rocke   
The attached spreadsheet shows an analysis of school choice gains and losses of students and dollars within Franklin County.
Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (Franklin County choice picture.xls)Franklin County School Choice AnalysisFranklin County School Choice Analysis316 Kb
 
What Makes A Regional School District? Print
Written by Kenneth Rocke   

As Franklin County begins to examine the benefits and risks of increased district regionalization and school consolidation, our community discussion should consider not only governance structure and fiscal savings (or the lack thereof), but also the fundamental interests that towns might have in working together to share schools and services.

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Gill-Montague Regional School District Turn-Around Plan: Update and Summary Print

District update: elementary school configuration, budget and leadership capacity

The Gill-Montague district continues to make significant improvements in leadership, educational achievement, governance and capacity to oversee educational improvement, with the resources that we do have.
Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (20071101 - DESE Leadership Report.pdf)20071101 - DESE ReportDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Education Leadership Report181 Kb
Download this file (20080130 - TAP - Original - v 3.3.pdf)20080130 - TAP - OriginalOriginal Turn Around Plan248 Kb
Download this file (20080330 - Presentation to the State Board of Education.pdf)20080330 - PresentationPresentation to the State Board of Education, March 30, 200859 Kb
Download this file (20080429 - TAP - Revised for 4.18.pdf)20080429 - TAP - RevisedGMRSD Turn-Around Plan - Revised April 29, 200891 Kb
Download this file (20080731 - TAP - Revised for 7.31.pdf)20080731 - TAP - RevisedGMRSD Turn-Around Plan - Revised July 31, 2008144 Kb
Download this file (20081101 - TAP - Revised for 11.1.pdf)20081101 - TAP - RevisedGMRSD Turn-Around Plan - Revised November 1, 2008139 Kb
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