Race to the Top Brings New Requirements, Teacher Evaluation

Administrators will set specific curriculum requirements and more closely evaluate teachers as part of the 's paticipation in the Race to the Top initiative.

Superintendent Bernard DiLullo presented the new standards at a School Committee meeting Tuesday, explaining that administrators will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their teachers and set professional development goals, as well as student learning goals. Tim Ward from the Department of Education will assist this systems’ implementation.

The district will move toward common core standards before the 2014 school year. The standards are benchmarks in educational instruction and curriculum requirements, DiLullo said. A state trainer will be working with the district starting in December to assist with these goals.

In other business, DiLullo offered an update on the high school boiler project, reporting the gas line has been installed and asbestos has been removed. The demolition on one of the boilers is expected soon. 

While that upgrade is going on, Summit Heating has donated $2,184 toward the repair of the existing high school heating system, so heat and hot water will still be operational throughout the span of this project.