This sounds like a good idea on paper, however, I find it hard to grasp that you need someone to come in and explain the roles of a Superintendent, as a School committee member and explain the open meeting laws. Pat Shearer has been on this committee how long? Her time is done here and its time to put in fresh ideas and members in with ethics who can do the job.
Listen, this information is years overdue for this disaster of an administration and SC. I am looking forward to hear the outcome.
For the last 3 years our school has been basically destroyed. Yes, changes come but these changes have been disastrous .
1- Loss of Dayle Dorion thanks to a School committee who had no idea what they were doing.
2- The SC not doing their jobs and lack in ethics.
3-Bullying by a Superintendent who pushed out Administrators who were the best of PVRS and had long standings with the schools,teachers,students and towns. A SC who chose not to hear them, the teachers, students or taxpayers.
4-A Superintendent who tried to destroy peoples careers by bullying and lying to the media .
5-Lack of accountability
6-Loss of teachers who spoke out against the Superintendent and a SC who closed their ears to what was happening.
7-Bringing in a Principal with no experience and a V Principal who can't seem to get out of her own way. Both are a disgrace to PVRS but were hired due to they follow Millers rules of bullying.
8-Not allowing parents to speak at meetings or answering questions. Hiding information that should of been released to the taxpayers concerning issues with the school.
9-Miller is unable direct and lead.
The list is endless and Miller expecting to hear what a great job she has done or her staff is a damn laugh! Since when is a bully acceptable? Or a Liar? This is what is running our school.
Well, lets see what happens.. Shirley Gilfether PVRS is in alot of trouble and Administrators and teachers and students are jumping ship without a life vest .I hope you have the answers but rarely does a bully change their actions and Miller has this following her and the same actions since the 90's. FYI get her away from the books!
NORTHFIELD — Hoping to provide Pioneer Valley Regional School District officials with a better understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities, retired administrator Shirley Gilfether is organizing a Nov. 9 district leaders workshop.
The workshop, which will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Pioneer’s library, will involve presentations about the responsibilities of a superintendent and of school committees, the open meeting law, ethics and conflicts of interest. The program is geared toward central office administrators, the School Committee, the four district selectboards and the finance committees.
Gilfether, a Greenfield resident with 42 years of experience in education, first reached out to Pioneer’s Assistant Superintendent Gail Healy in late summer about organizing a workshop. Gilfether met Healy in the early 1990s, when Gilfether was principal of Greenfield High School and Healy was principal of Four Corners School. Having been retired for three years, Gilfether wanted to know if she could offer assistance to Pioneer.
“I just started to realize after those 42 yrs … that I had a lot of things that I could still give to people as a gift of my knowledge,” Gilfether said. “I thought Pioneer could use a hand.”
During recent meetings, Pioneer officials have clashed over what are the responsibilities of the School Committee versus the responsibilities of Superintendent Ruth Miller and other central office staff.
Gilfether served a three-year term on the Greenfield School Committee in the early 2000s, noting how thankful she was for training on a school committee’s roles. The position, she said, was very different from any role she held as an administrator or teacher.
“I’m hoping we’ll be able to provide some insight on the various components of roles and responsibilities of public officials that will help them do their jobs more efficiently and effectively,” Gilfether said of her goals for the workshop.
“It’s really quite a lineup (and) an unbelievable opportunity for all these towns,” said Pioneer Superintendent Ruth Miller. “I just hope that they’re either going to have the good work they’re already doing validated, or at the same time, maybe (learn) some techniques for making that work better.”
Including Gilfether, there will be five volunteer speakers:
— Gilfether will offer a brief segment on the state open meeting law;
— Patricia Correira of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees will discuss the responsibilities of school committees;
— Patricia Martin of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents will speak on superintendents’ responsibilities;
— Mary Jane Handy of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services will discuss a school committee’s legal responsibilities regarding revenue, budgeting and negotiations;
— And David Giannotti of the State Ethics Commission will present on ethics and conflicts of interest.
Each panelist will have about 20 minutes to speak, and the event will conclude with a question and answer session. Refreshments will be provided.
Gilfether said that while the workshop will provide information that’s general and standard in Massachusetts, she hopes attendees will leave seeking more in-depth training. For example, she said public officials can register for a regional open meeting law training on Nov. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the John W. Olver Transit Center by calling 617-963-2925.
“I think this is hopefully a good beginning,” she said.
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