ChangeGreenfield Update – March 22, 2008

Hello everyone!

First we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who could make it to the meeting at Federal Street on the 17th!   We hope it was interesting and fun for you and we hope you’ll return on April 17th (and bring a friend!). We have so much great information from that meeting and are still sorting through it to compile a list of issues to help define our working groups.  In the meantime we wanted to keep in touch and let you know that the momentum is building, more people are signing up to help and we are more confident than ever that the community IS going to make the difference in our schools (and CHANGEGREENFIELD).

Our hope is to make this a weekly email update.

Some groups and efforts have already been defined.

• Incorporating a Foundation for the Greenfield Public Schools.  Meeting to be announced soon. A few experienced citizens have expressed interest in Foundation Board positions and we are reaching out to others.  This is an idea with a lot of potential. If you are interested in this topic please read about it here: http://www.schoolfoundations.org/
• Group forming to work on marketing the Greenfield Schools in the region and to our community.  Our first meeting is at Bart’s this Monday March 24th at 6:15. Please come if this interests you.
• Group will be forming to work on developing a 5 year Strategic Plan for the Greenfield School District. Meeting to be announced soon.  Good general information and a restructuring guide is available here: http://www.changegreenfield.com/Parentpower.html
• A group is interested in participating in discussions / processes around the Superintendent position. Meeting to be announced soon.
• The Bumper Sticker  “Choose Greenfield” (The town, the schools, the whole package).  Going to print soon.  We’ll need your help getting these out.
• Child Care for parent during public meetings.  The hope is that more people would be able to participate in the school and town processes. This would be a selling point for living in Greenfield.  What other town has a community willing to support this?  Several people expressed interest in coordinating this.  If anyone is interested in coordinating this effort as soon as the next School Committee meeting please contact Pam at pam@changegreenfield.com

Some good things are already happening.

• The Recorder has agreed to print a half page ad once a month featuring some of the positive things happening in the schools. We will need people to take pictures, gather information about programs, awards, write articles, inspirational stories, student profiles, etc.. It would be nice if a group were able to organize this effort…  basically a monthly communication of good news in our schools.
• We’ve connected with the Head of the Greenfield High school alumni association and will be looking into how best to work with them moving forward.
• We have begun a process to set up a foundation for the Greenfield Public Schools.  If you are interested in this topic please read about it here: http://www.schoolfoundations.org/  Nearly $200 has been pledged in seed money for this effort (incorporating, etc).
• We are close to securing a significant donation of computers from an anonymous local source.  We’ll work with the technology team at the schools to be sure these machines meet the needs of the students and requirements for the district infrastructure.

Action Needed !

• School Committee member Hassan Elzeneiny made a motion at this weeks school committee meeting to have the Superintendent create a survey for parents and students who are choicing out.  The motion was not seconded, so it failed.   Unless the School Committee instructs the Superintendent to create and administer the survey, there is no way to identify the individuals who are leaving Greenfield Schools in May; further, the public is not allowed to approach those individuals. If you support this idea, we need your help to convince other committee members to support this effort: Please call or send an email the School Committee members listed below asking them to reconsider the policy of instituting an exit interview for people who are choicing out.  And if you can, ask your friends to do the same…

Gregory S. Aubin, Chair  (413) 824-6221  greaub1@gpsk12.org
Christine Forgey, (mayor) (413) 772-6990  chrfor1@gpsk12.org
Hassan I. Elzeneiny  (413) 475-3386  haselz1@gpsk12.org
David Westbrook,  (413) 773-8528  davwes1@gpsk12.org
Jennifer Mahar,  (413) 772-2631  jenmah1@gpsk12.org
Doris Doyle, (413) 774-3627  dordoy1@gpsk12.org
Dalton Athey  413-834-2114(Cell) dalath1@gpsk12.org

• This spring, Beacon Hill lawmakers face decisions that affect every child in Massachusetts.  Schools remain inadequately funded, and with dropout rates approaching 50% for some communities, it’s high time the public and lawmakers tackled the changes we need.  On April 15, lawmakers need to hear that you care about improving our schools.  Please join citizens from over 50 communities us as they converge on the State House and call for relief, reform and innovation in public education.

Sign up here: http://www.stand.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=783&srcid=263

• School Committee Vacancies:  The School Committee will be replacing the two current vacancies with two three month appointments.  With the budget and a new superintendent hire in the works – important issues will be decided. If you are interested in being considered for one of these spots please send a letter of interest to the address below with a resume to the central offices.  Who knows, you might like it and decide to run for a permanent seat.

  Greenfield School Committee Chair
  Greenfield Public Schools
  141 Davis Street
  Greenfield, MA 01301

Thank you all again for being the big solution in Greenfield !

Remember – APRIL 17th is the next meeting at the Federal Street School … And smaller working group meetings will be announced in weekly emails and on the Greenfield Optimist web site: http://www.greenfieldoptimist.com

This effort is not a flash in the pan that will give in to business as usual.  Because of you this is the beginning of a long standing community engagement with the organizations and processes responsible for stabilizing and empowering Greenfield Public Schools to be nothing short of the best we can imagine.  We will promote our schools and our town and we WILL correct the perception of Greenfield in the region.  

Have a great Holiday !   We’ll see you soon.  Thanks again for your efforts.

- The ChangeGreenfield Crew

What will Education in Greenfield look like in 2020?

Written by Hassan Elzeneiny

Saturday, 22 March 2008

This is a draft of a Strategic Planning process proposed by Hassan Elzeneiny to the Greenfield School Committee in November 2007. What he proposes is a Joint School Task Force made up of School Committee members, Town Councilors and members of the general public. Please write our Council and Committee members and ask them to reconsider this inclusive evolution of our community. Contact information is HERE Call me a dreamer. Call me a new Greenfield politician. Or, call me the Secretary of the School Committee.In any case, like you I’m watching the School Committee fend off the critics on Town Council and at the mayor’s office over the School Budget. This year it happens to have a $1,100,000 million deficit. Last year it was whether to close two elementary schools, and whether all citizens would benefit equally from a proposition 2 ½ tax override. Will Greenfield learn from her mistakes or, are we, the community, doomed to recycle the same failed ideas? I, for one, hope that we do better. Unfortunately, I am not seeing signs of any change. Consider that this year’s kindergarten students will become the high school graduating Class of 2020. What will Franklin County be like when they finish high school? What knowledge and skills will these students need to become productive and happy citizens? How can our public schools best educate students for a future we can only guess at today? So, I want you to grab a cup of coffee and take a few minutes to analyze the benefits of long term planning for our schools. I call on Mayor Christine Forgey to appoint a Joint School Task Force made up of School Committee members, Town Councilors and members of the general public that will create a strategic plan for the public schools. The goal must be to forge widespread ownership of a shared strategy. A community’s school system can not be changed without strong, informed public support among parents, guardians, elected officials and the public at-large. Faculty, staff, parents, students and elected officials can all have a voice if a Joint Sub-committee would identify areas of focus, and use them to give rise to school staff & community working groups. There is a consensus that we have a strong foundation to build on. It is clear, to me, that a majority in our Town value the background, intelligence, compassion, teaching talent and desire for collegiality shown by the staff of the Greenfield Public School System. Some will wonder, “Where do we get the money for all these great plans”? Let me be clear that I am advocating an evolution, not a revolution. Public engagement is the first step toward a successful outcome by the Joint Strategic Planning Sub-Committee. To express your agreement that a Joint Strategic Planning Sub-committee should be formed now, send emails, cards and letters. Write to each School Committee member, each Town Councilor, and to the Mayor’s staff in support of having a community wide conversation. The dream of a better world for the students begins with your engagement; so join the yeoman’s work of volunteers who will embark on this exploration into the future. We have talented and committed people in this Town who can have an open and honest discussion about where we want our schools to be in 2020. Hassan Elzeneiny Secretary Greenfield School Committee

An Open Community Meeting on Monday, March 17 6-8pm

Please join us for an open community meeting on the Greenfield Public Schools- Monday March 17th in the Federal Street School library from 6-8pm.

The idea for the meeting is to present some of the critical issues that people have mentioned about the Greenfield schools on Mike’s website (changegreenfield.com) and to ask the larger group if anything is missing/ for other important issues affecting the schools. These will be categorized into working topics. We will then ask people to break into smaller groups based on one of their their interests and have a discussion that 1) lists important issues within that topic and 2) begins to formulate some positive ideas about things the citizens of Greenfield (i.e., us) can do about these particular issues. Each small group will then give a short (5 minute) report of their discussion to the larger group. There will also be time set aside for people to get acquainted with one another.

Please bring a friend! We hope this will be the beginning of a long standing community engagement with the organizations and processes responsible for stabilizing and empowering Greenfield Public schools to be the best in the region.

Did you Know?

In 2006, Greenfield had 2 elementary schools in the top 10 comparing schools in Franklin AND Hampshire counties?

#9 Green River (which has since closed for financial reasons)
#10 Four Corners

While the Four Rivers Charter School was ranked #7 among Middle schools and High schools in the two counties.
Great things are happening in our schools!
What are you doing to help?
Check out the rankings for yourself:
www.psk12.com
username: savegreenfieldschools@gmail.com
password: greenfield2008

What’s so Great About Greenfield MA

I’ve been living in Greenfield MA for about 10 years now. I moved here because it seemed like an up and coming little progressive and funky town. Like so many other Greenfield’ers I couldn’t afford to buy in Northampton, Amherst or other funky western Massachusetts towns. You can get 3 times the house for your dollar compared to Northampton. This town has grown on me and I now consider it to be my hometown for better or worse. The thing that makes this place comfortable is the people. Northampton is great but there is a arrogant attitude throughout the area. Rich kids beggin on the street because it’s “fun”. Of course there are exceptions but for the most part you’ve got to put up with a snobbish attitude just to get a cup of coffee. Greenfield on the other hand is much more grounded. I wanted to write a bit about the businesses and business people in this area. I’ve had some great experiences and I know others have… I want to make some recommendations and give some kudos to some good people.

The Tire Warehouse : These guys are awesome. They go the extra mile to satisfy their customers and make them feel comfortable. They won’t rip you off – they work hard – they are fast – they give you (if you are a female or a kid) flowers or toys – they are happy and are all about custom service. I will never buy my tires anywhere else. They are a part of a regional chain but you would never suspect it. It feels like a family business. Go to 291 Federal St. in Greenfield or call (413) 774-5541

Higginbotham Insulation – 64 Haywood St Greenfield, MA 01301 (413) 774-3604 : They insulted the walls of my house and my attic last fall and did an outstanding, very thorough job. I got more than I expected for the price I paid. They cleaned up after themselves and finished ahead of schedule. This was the best $1,500 investment I’ve made in maybe forever. I insulated in September and as of February I’m very close to getting a return on my investment. Last year I went through 3, 275 gallon tanks of heating oil. This year I don’t even think I’ll use one. I couldn’t afford to pay them all at once and they were very accommodating with a payment plan. Good reliable people. They do windows as well and I’m planning to use them when I get around to replacing mine.

Foster’s Super Market Incorporated (413) 773-1100 – 70 Allen St, Greenfield, MA 01301: The best produce selection in the area. The best seafood selection in the area. Great meat and competitive prices. This is a family run supermarket – remember those? This is it. They beat Big Y and Stop and Shop hands down. Beer, Wine, Deli, all the essentials.
Hope and Olive 413-774-3150 – 44 Hope Street Greenfield MA 01301 : I am by no means a food critic but this is one of the best fine dinning experiences in Western Massachusetts. To quote their website:

We serve homegrown, farm-inspired food & drink, presented simply, using the best ingredients from our neighborhood. We believe in compassionate service, and strive to engage in our community with attention and care

This place has incredible food (try the white anchovies appetizer – no it’s not salty) – run by warm wonderful people who have succeeded in creating a very rich environment. You will be comfortable and happy when you leave and you will come back for more. These are the same folks who owned A Bottle of Bread in Shelburne Falls.

The Farmer’s Market: Greenfield – Saturdays 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Court Square – May to October.

I’ll keep adding to this post later.