Yes, we need to keep on course and find out why these long time highly regarded professionals are resigning. Pioneer has already been determined  one of  the best High school's  in the state and now is coming into question by  so many  about what is going on. PVRS status is in danger that's becoming very clear.

We have seen from past post's where Miller  has been in charge  (she is removed or she resigns before being removed) that  the schools  felt the need to bring in past  Superintendents and principals to heal the schools, teachers, students  and the  budgets . Again we need to ask ourselves  do we allow the destruction of our schools or do we  do a recall and fix this mess before its to late? Like in past posts we are warned to watch the budget . It's with 100 % certainty kids are not her top priority nor teachers.

Letter: The Pioneer model

Sunday, June 26, 2016

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Pioneer Valley Regional School and the district have been featured in several articles and letters in the past few weeks. As a recent retiree from that school community and one who attended one of the most recent School Committee meeting, I would like to add my perspective.
PVRS deserves the distinction of being named among the top high schools in the state. The newly hired principal wishes to make it a “model” high school in western Massachusetts. It already was that during my last 12 years at the school, although not only for the reasons cited in the U.S. News and World Report criteria.
PVRS has been a model of inclusiveness and compassion. The staff, from administrators to teachers and support personnel, including custodians and food service employees, knew and showed care toward as many students as they possibly could. Students were greeted at the door and as they came off the bus each day and also recognized in the halls. The teachers went far beyond what was necessary to plan and execute the often emotionally and physically taxing demands that are the nature of their work.
I was honored to work with all of them.
That is why I attended the School Committee meeting where the resignations, NOT retirements, of four of the most dedicated and talented leaders in the school/district were questioned. Yes, it was an emotional question-and-comment period and the audience was reminded that personnel details could not legally be discussed. A previous letter implied that the audience did not know or was not informed of this; however, it was stated numerous times. There were also calls from the audience, most notably Julia Wallace, a PVRS student, that respect be maintained in the comments directed at Superintendent Miller. That call was applauded by many members of the audience. We were there for insight into this sad loss of leaders who were 100 percent committed to the students of PVRS.

I hope that the school community I very much enjoyed being part of will survive as a model for high schools everywhere. There will be much work to do. Meanwhile, let us continue to search for answers as to why four such highly regarded professionals have all felt the need to seek employment elsewhere during the past 6 months.
Karen E. O’Neil, retired science teacher, PVRS

Leyden