Presentation to Commissioner Mitchell Chester

A great deal of work is being done by the team to create – ‘from scratch’ – a Collaborative structure that mirrors a school system in compliance with Chapter 43.; We are now establishing the payroll, financial and accounting, and human resources departments.; We are in the process of verifying and rectifying incorrect information given to us in all three of these areas.; We are setting up processes in all these areas that are in compliance with Massachusetts General Law and the regulations set forth by the various regulatory bodies.; We have now purchased a financial and accounting package – SoftRight.; We selected this software package for both its technical qualities and competitive price.; Prior to making this decision we had a full presentation made by Tyler Technologies on Munis and BudgetSense.; SoftRight is on the state bid list (contract #ITS42).; The search for a Finance Director and accounting clerk has been completed.; We have also purchased the student information system – SchoolMaster.; SchoolMaster, although it costs less than twenty-five thousand dollars, is on the National Joint Powers Alliance bid list.; The student information system will serve multiple functions:; storing and managing student data including data required for SIMS reporting and IEPs; maintaining health records as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; storing and managing personnel data including data required for EPIMS reporting and personnel evaluation.
Partnerships: We are grateful to the many organizations and local businesses that partner with us so that our students can develop their:; Life skills Social and behavioral skills Transitional skills Vocational skills; Currently partnering to establish worksites at:; University of Massachusetts Lowell Hanscom Airforce Base Enterprise Bank – all twelve branches
Partnerships – Paid Worksites: A New Leaf Interior/Exterior Landscape Company (Plants); Billerica Housing Authority (BHA)-Billerica; Cintas Uniform Company-Chelmsford; Community Catering Company (CCC)-Billerica; Curriculum Associates (C/A)-Billerica; Inter Office Mail-Billerica, Chelmsford, Tyngsboro; Lantheus Medical Imaging Inside (LMI In)-Billerica; Lantheus Medical Imaging Outside (LMI Out)-Billerica; Mill Road-Chelmsford; TJ Maxx- Chelmsford; Walgreens-Arlington; Westford Academy-Westford; 3M Corporation-Chelmsford
Partnerships – Volunteer Worksites: Billerica Town Hall; Billerica Public Library; Chelmsford High School (CHS)/Tyngsborough Public Schools (TPS); Dracut Concessions-Dracut; D’Youville Senior Care-Lowell; Billerica Town Hall; Billerica Public Library; Chelmsford High School (CHS)/Tyngsborough Public Schools (TPS); Dracut Concessions-Dracut; D’Youville Senior Care-Lowell
Coming Up in FY’13: Expand dropout prevention programs.; Expand assessment offerings.; Expand Transitional Skills programs.; Offer professional development for staff on the Common Core Standards.; Offer professional development in special education pedagogy.; Begin to implement English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science curriculum that is aligned with the Common Core Standards.; Provide professional development on the new Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation.; Implement a teacher/staff evaluation system.; Implement a new salary schedule that is based on merit and licensure rather than longevity and highest degree.; The FY’12 Audit will have to be completed at the Merrimack Education Center.; The FY’13 Audit is the first audit that can be completed at the Collaborative with all of our own financial and human resources data.
Projected Timeline: It will take 18-36 months to ‘right the ship’.
Immediate Goals: To maintain tuition rates at the FY’12 level for three years for member districts.; To expand high quality programming to meet the needs of the students and districts we serve.; To be in compliance with Chapter 43 An Act Relative to Improving Accountability and Oversight of Education Collaboratives.; To have a ‘no findings’ FY’14 Audit.; Questions and Answers.