Blackstone‑Millville committee honors high MCAS performers and unanimously approves school improvement plans

The Blackstone‑Millville Regional School Committee opened its Oct. 27 meeting by recognizing students districtwide who scored in the "exceeding expectations" category on last year’s MCAS and presenting certificates to dozens of middle- and high‑school scholars.

After student recognition, the committee reviewed a slate of school improvement plans and approved each unanimously. Superintendent Jason DeFalco said the plans reflect districtwide priorities and acknowledged the scope of work ahead: "it's no secret that we have a lot of work to do," he said, introducing the middle‑school goals that include replacing directed study with a literacy class, implementing a new Into Math curriculum and clarifying a district writing rubric.

Presenters described how the middle‑school changes are intended to increase time on learning and create targeted intervention groups. The plan calls for schedule adjustments to take effect in quarter two, volunteer committees to study scheduling options, and a goal of sharing a finalized schedule by fourth quarter for summer planning.

High‑school content leaders Ethan Rowe (math) and Hillary Roberge (English) told the committee their plan aligns classroom instruction with the district’s Portrait of a Graduate and department goals. They highlighted continued implementation of StudySync in English, Into Math in math, Project Lead the Way pathways in STEM, and increased PLC (professional learning community) work to standardize grading and analyze student work. The high‑school plan also prioritizes college/career exposure, including a proposed college‑visit day for juniors and seniors.

At the JFK/AFM complex, presenters reported notable subgroup gains on MCAS and outlined goals to expand writing instruction, deepen community partnerships and continue after‑school programming that ties to classroom learning. Millville Elementary’s plan emphasizes early‑literacy interventions, Into Math implementation, an early‑literacy DESI grant-supported consultant and family‑engagement events aimed at increasing parent access to curriculum resources.

Each school plan included professional development, use of data (MCAS and STAR/Into Math growth measures) and strategies to address identified gaps — for example, a gender discrepancy in elementary ELA that the elementary presenters said they will target. Committee members made brief clarifying remarks and then voted on each plan: motion to approve the Middle School plan (mover: Dan; seconder: Tammy), the High School plan (mover: Dan; seconder: Aaron), the JFK/AFM plan (mover: Aaron; seconder: Kerry) and the Millville Elementary plan (mover: Dan; seconder: unspecified) — all carried unanimously.

The committee closed the discussion with commendations for staff and volunteers and noted next steps for community rollout and monitoring of implementation.