Grafton Students' Early Lesson: Name That Teacher

Name that new Grafton teacher?

Learning the names of new staff will be among Grafton students' first lessons when classes start right after Labor Day.

"The most significant changes have taken shape in terms of new hires brought into the school district," School Superintendent Dr. Jay Cummings said.
 
"Hiring has included an assistant superintendent, assistant principal at the high school, teachers, a social worker, and aide positions - each new person having a potentially significant impact on our students and district as a whole."

Cummings added that "we have also had a great deal going on in terms of facility upgrades."
 
"We have moved to natural gas (from oil) at all schools, have replaced old, inefficient boilers, installed new water heaters, are putting in new univents at the North Street Elementary School, and are expanding parking at South Grafton Elementary School," he told Grafton Patch during an e-mail interview.
 
"These upgrades will improve our learning environments and reduce energy costs."

Grafton's first day of school for pre-Kindergarten to grade nine is Sept. 3. Grades 10 to 12 return on Sept. 4.

A part-time social worker, and a reading specialist at the secondary level, have been added to the schools' staff this year, Cummings said.
 
"The great majority of the hiring we have done has been to replace staff who have left the school district," he said.

Enrollment has increased slightly since last year, Cummings said.

"Set objectives and initiatives" will remain the schools' focus this year, he said.

"We will be continuing our efforts to develop, align, and support curriculum; maximizing our effectiveness in responding to students when they are not learning; and building on the many great practices we are providing to students on a daily basis," said Cummings, who's in his third year as school superintendent.

"I am very excited about the coming year and believe it is going to be an outstanding one."