The team observed 62 classes in the district: 14 at the high school, 20 at the middle school, and 28 at the 3 elementary schools. The review team analyzed multiple data sets and reviewed numerous documents before and during the site visit, including: Student and school performance data, including achievement and growth, enrollment, graduation, dropout, retention, suspension, and attendance rates. Data on the district’s staffing and finances. Published educational reports on the district by ESE, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and the former Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA). District documents such as district and school improvement plans, school committee policies, curriculum documents, summaries of student assessments, job descriptions, collective bargaining agreements, evaluation tools for staff, handbooks, school schedules, and the district’s end-of-year financial reports. All completed program and administrator evaluations, and a random selection of completed teacher evaluations. Site Visit Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday January 22, 2018 January 23, 2018 January 24, 2018 January 25, 2018 Orientation with district Interviews with district Interviews with town or Interviews with school leaders and principals; staff and principals; city personnel; interview leaders; follow-up interview interviews with district review of personnel with finance personnel with the superintendent; staff and principals; files; teacher focus and regional district district review team interview with an groups; student focus treasurer; interviews meeting; visits to Turners outside consultant; group; parent focus with school leaders; Falls High School, Great document reviews; group; interview with interviews with school Falls Middle School, DSAC team leader. interview with committee members; Hillcrest Elementary School, teachers’ association visits to Turners Falls Gill Elementary School, and representatives. High School, Great Falls Sheffield Elementary School Middle School, Hillcrest for classroom observations; Elementary School, Gill review team’s wrap-up Elementary School, and meeting with the Sheffield Elementary superintendent. School for classroom observations.
The team observed 62 classes in the district: 14 at the high school, 20 at the middle school, and 28 at the 3 elementary schools. The review team analyzed multiple data sets and reviewed numerous documents before and during the site visit, including: Student and school performance data, including achievement and growth, enrollment, graduation, dropout, retention, suspension, and attendance rates. Data on the district’s staffing and finances. Published educational reports on the district by ESE, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and the former Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA). District documents such as district and school improvement plans, school committee policies, curriculum documents, summaries of student assessments, job descriptions, collective bargaining agreements, evaluation tools for staff, handbooks, school schedules, and the district’s end-of-year financial reports. All completed program and administrator evaluations, and a random selection of completed teacher evaluations. Site Visit Schedule Monday January 22, 2018 Tuesday January 23, 2018 Wednesday January 24, 2018 Thursday January 25, 2018 Orientation with district leaders and principals; interviews with district staff and principals; interview with an outside consultant; document reviews; interview with teachers’ association representatives. Interviews with district staff and principals; review of personnel files; teacher focus groups; student focus group; parent focus group; interview with DSAC team leader. Interviews with town or city personnel; interview with finance personnel and regional district treasurer; interviews with school leaders; interviews with school committee members; visits to Turners Falls High School, Great Falls Middle School, Hillcrest Elementary School, Gill Elementary School, and Sheffield Elementary School for classroom observations. Interviews with school leaders; follow-up interview with the superintendent; district review team meeting; visits to Turners Falls High School, Great Falls Middle School, Hillcrest Elementary School, Gill Elementary School, and Sheffield Elementary School for classroom observations; review team’s wrap-up meeting with the superintendent.