Welcome Back to the 2012-2013 School Year!

From Doug DeLong, Berkshire Local Schools Superintendent,

Welcome back to the start of the 2012-2013 school year!  We are looking forward to reuniting with your children and welcoming new students to Berkshire. As the school begins it is our commitment to provide a quality education to your children.  All of us want our students to be successful in and out of the classroom and help them achieve their goals.    

We are proud to announce that the Berkshire School District was rated Excellent on the State Report Card for 2012.  This is the third consecutive year we have achieved this rating.  I want to thank the students and staff for their efforts and the support from parents and community.  You have allowed us to pursue our educational goals for the children for which we are grateful.

We will be using a new student software program called Infinite Campus.  Student assignments, grades, and class schedules are some of the features parents/guardians will have access to in Infinite Campus.  Burton Elementary and Berkshire Junior/Senior High School will be using this software.

We will have several new staff at the buildings this year due to retirements and resignations.  At Burton Elementary, Mrs. Jamie Bower will be teaching fourth grade math.  At the junior/senior high school, we have two new guidance counselors, Mrs. Brittany Bakalar and Miss Michelle Bagaglia.  New teaching staff: Miss Hannah Bomback- social studies, Mrs. Kerrie Bocci-science and Miss Kayla O’Brien- health and physical education. Mr. Joe Leonette is our new Athletic Director.

During the summer, we completed several permanent improvement projects to our buildings and grounds.  New ceiling tiles and lights were installed in the hallways at Burton Elementary and Berkshire Junior/Senior High School.  We completed our two-year locker replacement at the high school.  Students will have new circular tables and chairs in the cafeteria at Burton Elementary. Our computer labs at both buildings were upgraded over the summer. We appreciate the support from the community that allows us to use permanent improvement money to maintain our facilities.

We will be continuing our professional learning community at Berkshire. Berkshire Jr/Sr High School and Burton Elementary will be on an adjusted bell schedule on Thursdays with time at the end of the day for team meetings. Students will continue to attend all of their classes.  Providing this time for teacher collaboration does not cost money. Implementing and sustaining a professional learning community does require determination, and a commitment from everyone that all students learn. We plan to continue including professors from Lakeland Community College in our team meetings this school year.  Our goal in doing this is to increase communication between high school teachers and college professors about what is being taught at both levels.  We believe this will benefit our students, teachers, and the professors.

Blizzard Bags/Calamity Day Alternative Make-Up Plan: The “plan” provides for 3 additional days beyond the 5 we already receive.  If we need to cancel school beyond the 5 days currently allotted to districts, students will be required to complete assignments for each of their classes.  The assignments will be posted online or available in paper form.  We will be providing more information on this at the beginning of the school year.

We are looking forward to the start of the new school year and working with the students, parents and community of our district. If you have any questions, please call me at 440-834-3380 or email me at doug.delong@berkshireschools.org

Enjoy the last remaining days of summer and Go Badgers!