Page 250 - BOXFORD

friendships, handling academic pressures and simply making sense of their surroundings
have a profound impact on their performance. Areas of the impact of a deficiency in the
ability to cope with everyday stressors include, but are not limited to, student isolation,
bullying, reduced academic performance, school refusal and hospitalization. A dual
approach of direct teaching as well as teaching strategies “in the moment” allows the
students to recognize the skills they need to cope and will help students with the
management of these challenges.

This year, as part of the Special Education Coordinated Program Review System, DESE
conducted a “Mid-Cycle” review, which falls in between the major review pattern of
every 6 years. This fall, a member of the CPR program came out to Boxford to review
compliance in areas of Special Education and Civil Rights. During the review, DESE
reviews files, interviews staff members and tours buildings. The Mid-Cycle review
includes review of any area that found to be a need when the full Program Review was
conducted as well as any new criteria that has been implemented by DESE. We are
extremely pleased to report that Boxford was found to be in full compliance with all areas
reviewed. This is a testament to the amazing staff and their dedication to the Special
Education Process.
The Special Education PAC continues to offer thoughtful programs to interested parents
of students at all grade levels. The Special Education PAC Board is comprised of a parent
from each of our three towns and from across the grades, PK-12. The TTSEPAC has its
own website: www.tritownSEPAC.org. In addition to open meetings throughout the year,
the SEPAC board meets with district administrators throughout the year as well to serve
in an advisory capacity. SEPAC held what they hope will be an annual carnival to help
fundraise and support the students. This year the SEPAC was able to run a grant program
which was offered to all staff in all 6 buildings. Through the grant program, the SEPAC
was able to generously fund multiple grants, including supporting the purchase of the the
Google Read and Write program.

New Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Student Support
Services

In July 2016, longtime Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Bernard Creeden, retired. Along
with many celebrations and commemorations of his service, two facilities were named in
his honor: the Dr. Bernard F. Creeden Media Center at the Harry Lee Cole School, and
the Dr. Bernard F. Creeden STEAM Lab at the Spofford Pond School.

Thanks to the hard work of the Superintendent Search Committee, the Tri-Town Union
School Committee (TTU) was pleased to hire Scott Morrison as the new Superintendent
of Schools. As a former teacher in Salem, a principal in Andover, and a Director of
Curriculum and Technology in the Manchester-Essex Regional School District, Mr.
Morrison has spent over 22 years in the field of public education. He has also served as
an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Salem State University, as an
Executive Board Member of the Northeast Regional STEM Network and an Advisory
Board member of STEM2. Mr. Morrison holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed
in Educational Leadership and is currently enrolled in the Organizational Leadership

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