September 7, 2009

Dear Students, Parents, and Community Members,

Welcome to another exciting year in Regional School District 13! As you return to our schools you will find some dramatic changes. The first is added security to the main entrances of all of our buildings. To the right or the left of the main door you will see a rectangle with a call button. Pushing the button activates a video screen inside and alerts the building secretary that there is someone at the door. She can then speak to the person at the door, ask his/her purpose and allow them to enter. All buildings will be locked during the school day. While this will take some getting used to, it greatly enhances the safety and security of our students and staff.

A second change, also related to safety and security, is we will be requiring all staff to wear identification badges indicating that they are district employees. Visitors, parent volunteers, consultants and contractors will also be required to wear a badge indicating they are also in the building with permission.  We expect to implement this by the end of this month.

Our building projects are finally underway with the new metal roofs on Memorial and John Lyman nearing completion. We are in the final design phase of the wells that will be drilled at Brewster, Lyman and Memorial School. Currently we are working with a variety of state agencies including: the Department of Public Health, the State Department of Education Construction Division and the Department of Public Utilities. Along with the individual contractors and the Building Committee, these agencies provide direction and oversight on the projects. After the completion of all the roofs and wells, the district will be eligible for 48 % reimbursement of these projects from the state.

Construction of the rest of the items passed in the referendum held in May of 2008 includes: a new eight lane track with an inner synthetic turf field where both soccer and football will be played, lighting, sound and seating for the field, and complete replacement of the four existing tennis courts, plus one additional new court. This portion of the project has been delayed due to the local permitting process. I am hopeful that this process will conclude quickly so we may proceed before frozen ground and snow halt the process and delay construction for another school year.

Lastly, some of you reading this are already participating in helping to shape the future of the district; you are working on an Action Team, helping to chart the course of the district for the next five years. I am grateful for your participation. Our next Strategic Plan will run from 2010-2015. While I know that sounds incredibly far in the future, it will be here before we know it.

In conclusion, I welcome everyone back to the 2009-2010 school year and invite everyone: students, parents and community members to get involved. There is something for everyone in District 13!

Very Truly Yours,

Susan L. Viccaro

Superintendent