Shrewsbury Schools Look to Fill Immediate Opening

A central officer worker is needed to finish out the school year.

From the Shrewbsury Public Schools:  Temporary Administrative Support Position  Immediate Opening Shrewsbury Public Schools Central Office is looking for temporary office support. This position is available immediately and ends on June 30th. The workday is 8:00am to 4:30pm with a one-hour lunch break Monday through Friday. This is an hourly position that pays $10.32/hr. Benefits are not included. Duties include: Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is helpful but not required. Please email Barb Malone atbmalone@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us if interested. Please supply short letter of interest with contact information and resume.   The Shrewsbury Public Schools is an affirmative action employer, ensuring that its programs and facilities are …

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Superintendent: Level Service Budget Creates Difficult Situations

This week the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen recommended a $2.17 million budget for the school department.

As the Shrewsbury Public Schools continue to look for a solution to their financial stress, the Board of Selectmen have approved a level service budget for the department. Superintendent Joseph Sawyer sent a letter to parents today outlining the situation from his perspective. “This new level of funding support is significantly more than the Town Manager's original recommendation, and I appreciate that the Town Manager and Selectmen have been able to recommend an increase that would allow us to maintain the same situation as the current year, without requiring further cuts to personnel or programming,” Sawyer wrote. But the problem isn’t solved by the budget recommendation. The Selectmen have said that they will not be in favor of an …

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Camp Counselors and More Town Jobs Open in Shrewsbury

Would you like to work right here in town?

With unemployment and the price of gas high, residents are looking for jobs in town. The Town of Shrewsbury website his listings for several jobs including many at the schools. ABA Technicians: Prefer candidates with experience in discrete trial training, modifying grade level curriculum, and behavioral supports.  The candidate will work collaboratively with numerous service providers, including speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Six-week summer program included. Pay range: ($17.03-$20.38).  Full benefits. Submit letter of application, references, and current resume to: Barbara Malone, Director of Human Resources, Shrewsbury Public Schools, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Fax: 508 841-8490. Child Specific Aids: …

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Parents Respond Emotionally to School Budget Shortfall

The Shrewsbury School Committee held a public hearing on their budget last night.

With Shrewsbury Public Schools facing a $4 million budget shortfall parents responded emotionally at last night's budget hearing. "Several parents Wednesday night choked back tears and pleaded with the School Committee not to cut any more teaching positions," The Worcester Telegram and Gazette reported. Their pleas may not help though because according to the Telegram Superintendent Joseph Sawyer has already said everything, including cutting 23 more teachers, is on the table. Some parents suggested raising taxes and looking to a proposition 2 1/2 override while others suggested increasing fees. At least one parent even suggested parents band together and make donations to the schools for the good of their children. What do you think about…

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Schools Budget $2.8 million Below Level Services

The School Committee says performance is in jeopardy if they fail to provide the services students need.

Shrewsbury Public School leaders say they are financially behind where they should be to provide students with the education opportunities they need to succeed. According to a report on the Worcester Telegram and Gazette website, the school department's initial budget was $4.4 million above their current request and that their current request is nearly $3 million behind level services. The Telegram reports that the initial budget request sought to restore 21 teaching positions that had been cut and reduce class size, but that number has been reduced. "The district needs a budget increase of $2.8 million to maintain current school programs and class sizes. [Sawyer] noted the lower amount does not represent a change in the current request …

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School Budget: Concern About Program Cuts and Class Size

Some suggest Shrewsbury has been on a 'downward slope.'

Increasing class size and program cuts are a major concern of teachers, residents and parents, some of which who voiced these concerns at a school committee meeting on Feb. 13, as reported by the Community Advocate. One woman, a mother of three in the school system, said that Shrewsbury public schools have "continued to be on a downward slope." Superintendent of Schools Joe Sawyer last month presented his recommended school budget for FY2014 (which can be found here), which, at $54.28 million represents an 8.5 percent increase over FY2013. The budget includes the addition of 45.5 full-time equivalent positions, including 21.5 classroom teaching positions, four administrative positions, 6.4 special education professionals, 9.0 special …

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Mom of 2 teens

11:04 am on Friday, April 26, 2013

thank you mr. P for articulating what so many parents know but other residents of SHrewsbury fail to acknowledge. If all parents would pay attention, get involved and vote, there might be a chance to turn this around. But after 7 years of fees, blinders and shoulder shrugging, it's unlikely to change soon. Property values will decline and that will cost homeowners a LOT more than a minor property…   more ›

Schools Ask for 8.8 Percent Budget Increase

The budget presentation was held last night at the School Committee meeting.

Shrewsbury Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Sawyer hopes to hire 31 new teachers across the district, and that's just the start of the $4.4 million budget increase he recommended. According to the Shrewsbury Daily Voice Sawyer presented a budget last night that includes special education personnel, iPads for Oak Middle School, and more along with the additional teachers. "This budget would be the first step in restoring resources that have been cut over the past several years, said School Committee members," the Daily Voice reports. A public hearing on the school department's proposed $54 million budget will be held next month.

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District Honors, District Wins and Grants Galore: the Superintendent's Recap

Letter from the superintendent shines a light on wins, awards and accomplishments at the schools.

Submitted by Superintendent of Schools Joe Sawyer As we begin the Thanksgiving break, I wanted to provide you with a few updates: • SHS Successes: Congratulations to the many SHS students who have represented our community with distinction in various competitions.  A few recent highlights include: The Speech and Debate team finished 9th out of close to 100 schools from 10 different states in a recent regional tournament in at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Based on competitive auditions, forty SHS musicians and vocalists were selected for All District honors, and of these 20 are being honored as All State. The fall play, Romeo & Juliet, was a success, while the Theatre Department won the prestigious Moss Hart Award given by the …

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New Human Resources Director Hired at Schools

The new director will replace Tom Kennedy.

The following press release was submitted by the Shrewsbury Public Schools: Dr. Joseph M. Sawyer, Superintendent of the Shrewsbury Public Schools, is very pleased to announce that Barbara Malone has accepted his offer to become the next director of human resources for our school district, effective July 1. Malone, a resident of Holden, is currently the employee relations practice leader in the human resources department at The Hanover Insurance Company in Worcester, where she has worked since 1999. Malone was selected from 26 applicants for the position. The hiring process included an interview with representatives from different employee groups; a day-long site visit to the school district that included interactions with different groups …

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School Lunch for the Week

Schools Serve Up Lunch

All schools in town offer lunch to students every day.

Elementary School Menu Monday, Oct. 10: School is closed due to holiday Tuesday, Oct. 11: mini pancakes with toppings chicken patty baked tator tots carrots mixed fruit 100 percent frozen juice bar Wednesday, Oct. 12: pasta with meat or marinara sauce chicken patty green beans garlic bread/pretzels orange wedges Thursday, Oct. 13: Papa Gino's pizza chicken patty smiley fries corn fresh apple chocolate pudding Friday, Oct. 14: meatball sub chicken patty pasta salad/baked chips carrot sticks and dip apple sauce yogurt fruit parfaits *Lunch $2.75 Reduced lunch $ .40 10-ounce milk $ .60 100% juice $ .60 Bottled water $ .60 Second slice pizza $1.25 Middle School Lunch Menu Monday, Oct. 10: School closed due to holiday Tuesday, Oct. 11: Papa …

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