December 2015

It is amazing that we are coming to the close of 2015! This post will feature an update on our strategic planning initiative, the Fiscal Year 2017 (2016-2017 school year) budget, a draft of the 2016-2017 school calendar, winter weather procedures and other items of interest. I would like to wish everyone all of the best in 2016!

Strategic Planning Project Enters Phase II

A huge thank you to everyone that participated in one of our nine focus groups last month. The focus groups were able to identify areas of strength, as well as challenges that the district will face over the next five years. Many themes emerged from the focus group data and these themes will now be the basis of a brief survey during mid January. After we compile the survey data, we will begin the process of developing goals for the next five years. Our target completion date for the entire plan is still on track for June, 2016. Special thanks to School Committee members Anna Mae O'Shea Brooke and Tim Bonfatti for being a part of the Strategic Plan Leadership Team. 

FY 2017 Initial  Budget

Although it is not even January, we are currently working on the budget for the next school year. The town charter requires the School Committee to adopt a budget by January 31st. The initial budget presentation requests an increase of 5.73% over the previous year's budget. The budget development process is far from over. Our budget subcommittee of Chris Morrison, Eileen DeSisto, Director of Finance and Operations Micheal La Francesca and I continue will continue to work with town officials throughout the next few months leading up to Town Meeting in April. The School Committee will hold a public hearing on the budget on January 25th at 7:30 PM at Medfield High School. 

For more information please visit:

FY17 Initial Budget Presentation

Watch for more budget materials as they become available.

2016-2017 School Calendar

We have been working on revising the school calendar for next year with the goal trying to limit the amount of days in June.  As with any change there has to be some level of sacrifice and next year's calendar is no different. The most notable changes replace two historic "no school days" with  "release days". The Friday before Labor Day and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving are scheduled as release days instead of a full day off. These changes along with only one full professional development day would allow us to end the school year three days earlier. This could mean a dismissal on June 15th instead of June 20th (with no snow days). The draft of next year's calendar can be found at  Draft 2016-2017 Calendar  The School Committee will approve a final version of the calendar in January.

Winter Weather Procedures

We were fortunate enough to make it through December without a snow day, but the next three months are often the most problematic in New England. We will once again utilize the Blackboard-Connect System to notify parents if school is closed, delayed, or dismissed early. The phone call will be sent to each household and parent cell phone number that is currently on file with the district.

In addition to the phone call, the announcement will appear on:

• Twitter @JeffreyJMarsden (I actually do this first...so follow me!)
• Television Stations: FOX  25, WBZ 4, WCVB 5, and WHDH 7
• Our district website: www.medfield.net

Please remember that there will be times when school is not cancelled, delayed, or dismissed early and the weather is still inclement. Those days will feature slower travel for buses and cars, but will not necessarily require a change in the normal schedule. Please remember if you feel it is unsafe for travel, you always have the option to keep your child home.

Other Items of Interest.....

• Our Field Study is almost finalized and we will have a recommendation at Town Meeting in April. Stay Tuned!
• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently published an article written by High School teacher Madeline Chamberlain, Wheelock Teacher Joan Dion, and me that highlights the work our school committee, union and administration completed through Interest Based Bargaining. A special thanks to the teacher negotiation team and School Committee members Chris Morrison and Maryanne Sullivan for all being key components to this important process.  The article can be retrieved at Implementation Spotlight: Interest Based Bargaining in Medfield: Communication, Collaboration and Focus on Improvement
• Our elementary math night was very well attended and was a huge success. Thanks to Kim Cave, Missy Bilsborough, Donna Olson and Steve Grenham for putting together an informative evening of mathematics. Thank you to Julie Colantoni, Marie Pendergast, Erin Watson, Marissa Foley, Kelly Bertschmann, Laurie McNeil, and Debby Fromen for volunteering that night.