Committee discusses Special Education vacancies
By Jennifer K. Gray Contributing Writer

Marlborough - After an update on the current open teaching positions within the Marlborough Public Schools, school committee members wanted reassurance that students in the district's Special Education program are receiving necessary services.

Jeffrey Haines, director of human resources for the Marlborough Public Schools, provided the committee with a list of all open teaching positions. Of the 12 open positions, nine openings fall within the Special Education area. Open positions in that area include special education teacher and para-educator positions at Marlborough High School (MHS), a lead applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapist at Marlborough Intermediate Elementary School (MIES), a para-educator/ Spanish translator at Kane Elementary, an ABA tech and a para-educator for the Early Childhood Center, a para-educator at the Phoenix School and substitute teachers and tutors.

Committee member Robert Seymour expressed concern and asked whether students are receiving the instruction and services they need.

"We have students with IEPs [Individualized Education Plans]," Seymour said. "Are we able to follow these?"

Haines explained that the IEPs are being followed, but the district needs the additional resources.

"They [the IEPs] could be carried out better if we were able to find qualified individuals to fill these positions," Haines said.

The Human Resources Department is actively seeking applicants to fill the vacancies.

Other business

Director of Public Facilities John Ghiloni provided the committee with information about the maintenance work and improvements done at the Marlborough schools over the summer, a few of which are in the final steps of completion. In total, over $2 million worth of work was performed in district schools.

Ghiloni also informed the board of an expected $110,000 rebate from National Grid.

The committee commended Ghiloni for the accomplishments.

"We certainly got a lot of things done - things that were very much needed," committee member Joe Delano said.

Superintendent Barbara McGann announced that Audrey Fearing, a Marlborough Middle School (MMS) math teacher, has been awarded the Raytheon Math Moves U Math Hero Award. The award is given to a teacher or volunteer for his/her dedication to improving math education and for inspiring participation in math. Additionally, 11 students from MHS and MMS were awarded college scholarship funds and matching school grants for their participation in the Math Moves U Program.

Jonathan Rosenthal, the K-12 music coordinator, requested approval to begin planning to take high school music students to the All- American Music Festival in Orlando, Fla., in 2009.The trip would take place during April vacation week and participating students will miss one day of school.

Conducted by professional performers, the sessions at the festival are a combination of lecture, demonstration and student performance.

The committee approved the requested trip and gave permission to begin fund-raising eff orts to finance the trip.

The committee also accepted donations from Intel's technology education program and Target's Take Charge of Education and Teacher Education programs. The seven donations, in varied amounts, will benefit MHS, MIES, MMS and Richer Elementary.