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Schools

Foxborough School Committee Recognizes Retirees

Retirees honored, Kominsky's last meeting, summer reading selected as part of Foxborough School Committee meeting



The Foxborough School Committee gathered last night in what would be their last official meeting of the school year.

The committee recognized the service of 11 Foxborough Public Schools staff members set to retire this year. Those retirees include Ellen L. Dean, 25 years in food service; Martha L. Dooley, 23 years in food service; Laurel Dudley-Pappas, 22 years in special education;  Diane Horton, 15 years as an art teacher; Cheryl L. Law, 18 years as an elementary teacher; Gerald A. Roy, 28 years as art teacher/ Head of Art Department; Judith A. Sherlock, 25 years as an educational assistant; Jeffrey Theodoss, six years as high school principal; Michael F. Tiano, 14 years as a guidance counselor; Kathleen J. Walsh, 20 years as a bus driver; and Laurie C. Waterman, 27 years as a kindeergarten Teacher.

Also at the meeting, School Committee Member Kate Kominsky was recognized for her nine years of service.  Kominsky said that throughout her time on the board, she had been “blessed with good teachers, good administrators, a good mentor, and good Chairpersons” and that she “looks forward to sitting in the audience” of “every single school committee meeting.” She resigned after being re-elected to the position.

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In the ‘Teaching and Learning Highlights’ segment of the meeting, Walter Mitchell, head of the English department at Foxborugh High, spoke about the “One Book, One School” program, which involves the whole school reading the same book over summer break.

Mitchell expressed that he felt the program had been a success last year, when all Foxborough High School students read The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. Mr. Mitchell proposed that this year’s required text will be The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. The board approved this unanimously.

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Also last night, the guidance department presented their year end report. Members noted the slight decline in the percentage of Foxborough High graduates planning to attend college.

Superintendent Debra Spinelli gave an update on the status of her ‘Development of Strategy’ plan. Spinelli said she spent time collecting and analyzing data from students, staff, and community members and has identified key goals to help move the district forward, saying, “This is about how we can do our jobs better” to better serve the students.

The school committee also accepted bids for utiltiy services for the upcoming school year, as well as for the services of an athletic trainer from Mass General Rehabilitation Services.

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