Barnstable Public Schools begin winter break on Friday, December 23, 2022 and will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. We wish our community Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!
Inclement Weather
The winter months increase the possibility of school closures–or delayed openings due to severe weather conditions.
Decisions to close school or delay starting times are always difficult. Before a decision is made, school and bus company officials monitor weather conditions and personally check the roads. If conditions are severe enough to threaten the safety of students traveling to and from school, a decision is made to close or delay school. The decision is usually made by 6 A.M.
Families – please be sure your emergency contact information is updated so that you receive these important notices.
Updates will be shared with the community as noted on our School Closures webpage: https://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/Page/83
School Calendar for 2023-2024
The School Committee reviewed two draft calendars for the 2023-2024 school year at their most recent December meeting. One draft calendar begins school prior to Labor Day and the other draft has school starting for students after the holiday weekend. When developing the calendar, we consider a variety of factors including the requirements of time on learning (180 days for students), the needs of our professional staff through professional development time, designated time for family/teacher conferences, collective bargaining requirements, and predictability for faculty/staff and families.
The calendar is circulated among staff for input and feedback prior to the School Committee taking a vote. I anticipate the School Committee will take a vote on the 2023-2024 school calendar at their January 11 regular meeting.
Addressing Hate in School Sports
Athletic Director Steve Sentes, three BHS coaches, and I attended Attorney General Maura Healy’s special meeting to launch an initiative to address hate in school sports across the state. This free event, held in Boston at the TD Garden, was attended by 600 participants and was co-hosted by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Massachusetts School Administrators Association, and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.
Of note the Anti-Defamation League(ADL) shared a new handbook with best practices and resources for ADs, coaches, and school administrators. This ADL Guidebook uses a “PEACE Framework”:
Prepare and Prevent
Encourage Reporting
Act Quickly and Respond
Communicate
Educate and Heal
During this school year, the organizations will host 12 regional trainings across the state for school and athletic leadership. The trainings will be conducted by the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University. At least one training will be held in each of the nine sports districts organized by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. Through the use of a “train-the-trainer” model, attendees will be equipped to bring the programming back to their schools and train others.
Budget Development
December is the beginning of the budget development season for Barnstable Public Schools and the Barnstable School Committee. The School Committee and administrative team will spend the next several weeks developing a comprehensive, strategic budget that provides educational services that challenges, support, and engage our students; prepares children for their futures; and addresses students’ academic, social, and emotional needs in a way that is fiscally sound and accountable to the taxpayers.
Key dates:
February 1, 2022 – Initial Presentation of the FY 24 Budget
March 15, 2022 – Public Hearing on the FY 24 Budget
If you are interested in background information regarding the town’s finances, previous school budgets, and school enrollment trends, please see the presentation to the Joint Town Council and School Committee on October 20, 2022. https://streaming85.townofbarnstable.us/CablecastPublicSite/show/10221?channel=1
