Page 243 - BOXFORD

media) to develop a strategic plan to effectively communicate with parents/guardians and
the community to share the good work that our schools are doing.

Capital Improvements made to Boxford Schools
In FY2016 we began the evaluation of the Spofford Pond School roof and windows, as
they are coming to the end of their useful lifespans. The building envelope is showing
signs of age and excessive wear.

An infrared study and Feasibility Study have been completed as part of a renovation and
replacement project that are being planned to take place over the next two years. We have
started the process of partnering with the Massachusetts School Building Authority for
the proposed project, anticipating an approximate 40% reimbursement rate for a large
portion of the project (not all portions of the project are reimbursable).
In early 2017, we will develop the drawing and ID information in order to have a hard
number for the Annual Town Meeting in May 2017. Pending approval at Town Meeting
and at the ballot, the project will begin with the roof replacement in the summer of 2017
and the window replacement in the summer of 2018.
The renovation of the Aaron Wood Building was completed in January 2016. The project
came in under budget and we anticipate that the building will continue to serve the
community for many years to come.

Boxford Learning Community Support Organizations

Boxford Parent Teacher Organization: The Boxford PTO has budgeted an investment
of approximately $54,000 in the elementary schools for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The
goal of the PTO is to use parent donations to enhance the education of the students at
Cole and Spofford through supportive programs, teacher tools, and community building
events.
The budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year is over $22,000 for the "Teachers' Wishes"
program, which funds teacher grant requests for supplies. This year’s Teacher Wishes
included guided reading materials, writing enrichment materials and organizers, various
publications, headphones, OT and PT support materials and variety of other curriculum
enhancing materials, apps and software. In addition, the PTO funded over $1,800 toward
the STEM Lab at Cole.

Approximately $20,000 of PTO budgeted spending this year will support the Curriculum
Enrichment program. Each grade level benefits from one or more of these programs each
year. For example, last year all fifth grade classes were entertained by the Techsploration
show about electricity, which was followed by hands-on electricity experiments in each
fifth grade classroom. The PTO has added Miss Frizzle and Johnny the K programs to
Cole school, in addition to the Audubon, Museum of Science, Drumlin Farms, NE
Aquarium and History of Rockets and Space Flight programs. Many of the enrichment
programs cover aspects of science, including biology and geology related topics.

The PTO also helped to defray the costs of the 2nd and 6th grade activities and
celebrations, and contributed $1,000 to this year’s 6th grade activities committee.

242