By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Superintendent Tom Geary gave a midyear update on the four goals he established during the School Committee’s Jan. 14 meeting.
Geary established four goals for the 2024-2025 academic year as part of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s state-mandated superintendent evaluation system that pertain to curriculum, technology, citizenship and the fiscal year 2026 operating budget.
School Committee Chair Kristen Grieco Elworthy said the panel will be undertaking Geary’s summative evaluation, which she said is a “performance review,” at the end of the academic year.
“This is a midyear step for us to hear an update from Tom as to the progress and next steps,” said Elworthy.
Geary agreed.
“A midyear cycle hasn’t been done in a few years, but I personally think it is a good idea to check on the progress midyear so there are no surprises,” said Geary. “I have had the chance to observe a lot of different areas within the district in the past year or so through a different lens. In creating the four goals last June, I wanted to make sure we had a cross section of as many areas as possible where I saw room for clarity, growth and improvement.”
Curriculum
Geary said the first goal he established involves reviewing and assessing “practices designed to improve teaching and learning in the mathematics, English language arts and performing arts programs.”
The superintendent said the School Committee has heard presentations about the K-12 English language arts curriculum and the K-12 math curriculum. He noted that the district’s MCAS results and Lynnfield High School’s Advanced Placement (AP) exam results were also presented to the School Committee.
“One metric that I tried to focus on during my time here is putting as many resources as close to the classroom as you can to emphasize the importance of teaching and learning,” said Geary. “We have amazing teaching and learning going on in our classrooms each day. We have to share how we are doing it, and we have to do a better job at that.”
Geary recalled that the elementary schools are looking to implement a new math curriculum next year. He said the Math Curriculum Review Team has selected two programs to pilot this winter, and a new curriculum will be selected in the spring.
The superintendent said the elementary schools and Lynnfield Middle School are focusing on students’ transition to different grade levels. He said the elementary schools have formed a Homework Committee that is “looking at how homework is aligned at the schools.”
“There is also middle school participation on that committee because we often hear that students hit the wall in fifth grade when it really starts to pick up,” said Geary. “We are looking at how we can address that transition.”
Geary said the School Committee will be hearing a performing arts presentation from Summer Street School music teacher Ben Zavisza in February.
Technology
Geary said the second goal he established involves “implementing the recommendations of the technology audit” and review the “structure” of the Technology Department in order to “improve efficiency and overall culture.”
The School Committee voted last year to hire Focus Technology to conduct an audit of the Technology Department. After the Technology Department had some “turnover” last year, Geary hired Rochelle Cooper to serve as the district’s educational technology department head last summer.
“Rochelle is a highly-respected, knowledgeable and veteran Lynnfield teacher who is still our grades K-6 technology integration specialist,” said Geary. “She has been amazing in this role, and has the skill set and understanding of the district to help move us forward.”
Geary said the School Department issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a managed technology service provider for outside technology support.
“I put out an RFP early in the fall for applications for a managed service provider who would meet what we were looking for,” said Geary. “We had five companies apply, and we had a committee finalize it. We ended up with NorthEast Technology as our final approved vendor for managed technology services.”
Geary said NorthEast Technology “understands the needs that were identified in the third party audit.”
“We all feel good about where we are moving forward with them,” said Geary.
In response to a question from School Committee Vice Chair Jenny Sheehan, Geary said NorthEast Technology was the company that was previously providing outside technology support services for the district.
Geary said the School Department’s fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budgets will be presented at the School Committee’s next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
“Many of the audit’s recommendations will be reflected in that,” said Geary. “In addition in February, Rochelle will be presenting a status update about the Technology Department.”
Citizenship
Geary said his third goal involves identifying and developing “practices that make citizenship central to school ethos.”
“This one really hits home for me because it impacts everyone: Students, staff and families,” said Geary. “It is how we represent ourselves to the community, what do we want to be and what do we expect of our students on a daily basis.”
Geary recalled that the School Committee approved a new cellphone policy, a new dress code policy and a new “Student Conduct on School Buses Policy” last summer.
“We really looked at different things that would directly impact culture and behavior,” said Geary. “It’s all part of creating a culture of expectations.”
Geary said the citizenship goal will look different at each school. He said Lynnfield High has been working on the Vision of the Graduate initiative. Geary said Lynnfield Middle School is looking to reimagine the Advisory Program that is held on Thursdays. He said the elementary schools have been working on implementing social-emotional learning in classrooms and assemblies.
The superintendent also said he has hired five new administrators over the course of his tenure: Cooper, Assistant Superintendent Adam Federico, Huckleberry Hill School Principal Lauren King, Lynnfield Community Schools Coordinator Morgan Festa, and Payroll and Benefits Administrator Katie Darragh.
“I think they all have been well-received based on feedback,” said Geary.
Geary also said the School Department revamped the New Teacher Induction Program this year. He is also participating in a modified version of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents’ (M.A.S.S.) New Superintendent Induction Program. He also said he has worked to improve collaboration with other town departments, which he said was reflected in the District Safety Team’s presentation last month.
“Something like that safety night doesn’t happen without working hard to build relationships,” said Geary.
FY26 budget
Geary said his fourth and final goal entails planning an “effective fiscal year 2026 budget development process.” He will be presenting the preliminary FY26 school budget on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The superintendent said the district’s next spending plan will prioritize “district needs in a fiscally responsible manner, while collaborating with and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders.”
“Every budget cycle brings its own unique challenges,” said Geary. “I have been here 20 years and it has never been a good budget year. However, given the financial conditions of the town and combined with the fact that we have begun negotiating our union contracts, I am committed to an open, well-planned and cooperative budget process.”
SC reaction
While School Committee member Jamie Hayman said the budget goal has yet to be determined, he said he was “really impressed” with how Geary was “getting us to rethink how we are budgeting and accounting for technology.”
“You inherited a system where it started as a one-to-one at the high school and it has evolved to a one-to-one basically across the district,” said Hayman.
Hayman said he would like to see “more data” about the curriculum and citizenship goals.
“How do we make this more quantifiable,” said Hayman. “Some examples I have are how often are you observing teachers in these subjects and how often are you meeting with principals, and what are the outcomes of those meetings. The challenge with the superintendent’s rubric is it’s not very measurable at times and it feels squishy in my opinion. What I want to be able to do is link this to results. If we want to hold students and teachers to high standards, we have to expect the same for our superintendent. We have to do that as a School Committee. That starts with having some measurable elements there.”
Elworthy concurred with Hayman’s viewpoint.
“We have taken a look at the DESE rubric, and part of that is providing a ton of data,” said Elworthy.
School Committee member Jim Dillon commended Geary for making citizenship and improving school culture a major focus area this year. He also said the five administrators he hired “have been great.” He also praised Geary for deciding to include educator feedback as part of the new elementary math curriculum selection process.
“So far, you are looking at the right things, working in the right direction and hired the right people,” said Dillon. “I know that you are personally driven, take pride in your job and care about every single kid who goes to school here. So far, you have done very well in my opinion.”
Sheehan agreed with Hayman that she wants to learn more about “how we are measuring school culture.”
“With policy, it is a little easier because you can look at student behavior,” said Sheehan. “Going to an assembly is great, but how do we know if it is working.”
Elworthy said she works closely with Geary as the School Committee’s chair.
“I find you to be collaborative, open to feedback and open to ideas,” said Elworthy. “These are solid goals and are impactful. When they are achieved, they are going to have a direct impact on our students.”
In response to a question from Hayman, Geary said he is working with M.A.S.S. mentor Becky McFall, who is Lincoln Public Schools’ retired superintendent, in the New Superintendent Induction Program.