Why Superintendent Gormley is the only town employee who has to endure a having their performance review broadcast in public is to some observers completely bewildering and slightly bizarre. Be that as it may the School Committee gave her straight A’s.

At the previous session of the School Committee Ms. Gormley delivered a “self-reflection” in which she reviewed the past year’s issues and accomplishments. You can find that document here. During last night’s meeting the individual members of the school committee publicly reflected on Ms. Gormley’s reflection. Mr. Huban began by giving Ms. Gormley an A and the following members echoed that and each enhanced it with some personal observations. Pavlicek cited the strength of the mentoring program, Keohane said she was one of the reasons he ran for school committee, and Sheridan commented on the fact that she is seemingly “tireless.” There were no criticisms but a few gently suggestions. Kelly recommended she “learn to say no.” and Keohane urged her to promote the parent attendance at the Foundation for Education in any way she could.

Other business included but was not limited to:

• The Committee for a Diverse Milton appeared before the committee and while largely complimentary voiced concern over the lack of people of color in the administration and faculty ranks. currently about 7% of the staff are people of color. However, the student population breads down about 70% (white) – 30% (students of color).  The committee urged the school administration to step up the effort to recruit with the goal of a more diverse faculty. The discussion that followed focused on how the pool of applicants is compiled and what could de done to ensure that going forward the pol is as diverse as possible. It is a challenge. Pavlicek noted that the number of graduates from education schools was approximately 7%. Phelan and Gormley had just come off a call earlier in the day with state education officials who had examined the faculty’s certification. The district is required to have 97.3% of their faculty certified and Phelan said they were challenged on the call as to why they were not at 100%. As it happens, there are approximately 5 teachers without certification but all 5 are either applying for or have their certification pending. It appears that there is tremendous competition among schools for the available pool of teaches of color who have certification.
• Dr. Burdett who direct the district art and music programs also appeared before the committee along with art teachers Ms. Sampson and Ms. Hughes. There primary point was clear; restore art at the elementary level. Currently elementary students receive 18 hours of art instruction per year ( a half hour once a week for half the year).  That is assuming there are no conflicts or cancellations due to snow, assemblies etc. The cuts were made in the 207-208 school year, the year, according to Dr. Burdett, “that the music died.” The art program at the high school is still thriving. They offer classes in a variety of media as well as an AP class. The estimate is that approximately 500 students take an art class at some point during the school year. But Burdett noted that the foundation for that pyramid is crumbling. The committee had no answer. Ms. Kelly suggested that they look at reallocating the art spend i.e. reduce high school offerings to beef up elementary offerings.) Mr. Pavlicek noted that cutting the arts was one of the most “hurtful and personally upsetting” decisions he has had to make.