District Newsletter | February 2025
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Important Dates
12/11: Half Day
12/20: Half Day
12/23 - 1/1: Winter Break
HARVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dr. Linda Dwight, Superintendent
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Superintendent's Message
Dear Families, Thank you to the families who recently donated items requested by the district in the principals’ newsletters. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. We also extend our gratitude to the Harvard Schools Trust and the PTO for their extra grant awards, which help fund areas of need and enrichment. These additional funds are especially valuable as we navigate a tight budget season for the 2024-25 school year.
Budget Challenges & Planning
This year’s budget constraints are due to several factors, including the unanticipated lack of access to a building rental account, and increased transportation expenses. Unexpected pressures on the budget include additional resources needed to support the needs of our students. As we carefully manage spending to maintain a balanced budget for the current school year, we are also progressing through the budget process for next year.
School district leaders recently met with members of the Finance Committee and Select Board to address questions about the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year. Following these discussions, the Finance Committee will collaborate with the Select Board to finalize a budget, which will be presented to community members at the All Town Meeting on May 3, 2025.
Understanding the Budget Approval Process
Current budget requests of the school district and other town departments exceed the 2.5% tax increase limit. The Select Board will determine whether to propose an override and, if so, the amount.
Stay Informed & Engaged
Discussions about the budget take place in public meetings, which are recorded and available for viewing on the Harvard Media Cooperative website: https://theharvardmediacooperative.com/watch/.
The school district’s FY26 budget presentation was shared in two School Committee meetings in November:
November 12, 2024 – View starting at approximately 1:00.
November 18, 2024 – View starting at approximately 1:05
We encourage you to watch these meetings, as well as upcoming Finance Committee and Select Board meetings, to stay informed about the town and school district’s financial management. The schedule of town meetings, including agendas and Zoom links for remote viewing, can be found here.
Your participation is essential. Attending the All Town Meeting on May 3, 2025, will allow you to be part of the decision-making process and have a voice in shaping our schools’ future. Thank you for your continued support and engagement!
All the best,
Linda G. Dwight
Superintendent |
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Central Office Updates:
Dana Labb, Assistant Superintendent
Greetings Harvard and Devens Families and Caregivers,
Arm in Arm is returning to its educational program on religions; the similarities and differences. Come join us for a visit to the Sikh Temple in Westborough. This is an educational event and we will be greeted by student ambassadors and meet with the Temple’s leaders to learn the many dimensions of Sikhism. For those who would like to share the experience together, we will have two large vans to take us there from Harvard at 10:30 am. |
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Come experience the profound influence of African dance, music, and rhythm on American culture in honor of Black History Month. Let's learn together and gain deeper appreciation in an entertaining and highly interactive program for all ages.
Best regards,
Dana Labb
Assistant Superintendent |
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Special Education Updates:
Michelle DellaValle, Director of Pupil Services
The Pupil Services office supports learners with specialized needs. This includes students who receive special education services, those on 504 accommodation plans, English learners and students who are experiencing home instability.
New Massachusetts IEP Form:
Starting this fall, Harvard is transitioning to the New Massachusetts IEP Form. The New IEP form is designed using easier to understand language and is centered around the student’s strengths and vision. Special education staff have participated in trainings and work sessions to familiarize themselves with this new document. Harvard has developed district forms and processes in hopes of creating a smooth and consistent experience for parents and caregivers. For children receiving special education services, parents and caregivers can expect their next IEP meeting to use the New IEP form.
Below are resources to learn more about the New IEP, including a presentation from Spring 2024.
New IEP Parent/Caregiver Slides Spring 2024
New IEP Parent/Caregiver Zoom
Passcode: L+.od0h8
DESE: IEP Improvement Project - Special Education
FCSN: The New IEP Form
Digital Signature:
Harvard uses Digital Signature through the PowerSchool Special Programs application to obtain parental consent for Special Education and Section 504 documents. When a document is ready for signature, you will receive a notice through PowerSchool Special Programs. You will first be asked to agree to the use of Digital Signature which is non-binding to any portion of the IEP or 504. Use of Digital Signature is completely voluntary. If you wish to receive paper or pdf copies of documents, please let your child’s special education liaison or the designated 504 coordinator know.
PARENT/CAREGIVER RESOURCES:
New Mass Literacy for Families and Communities resource: The Mass Literacy Guide has been empowering educators since 2020 with practical strategies and resources for preK-3 literacy. Now this hub of early literacy information includes a section designed specifically for families and communities. Families and community members can use the site to learn more about reading and writing instruction and how to support it at home. Educators can use the site to provide caregivers with information about evidence-based early literacy.
Mass Partnerships for Youth Parent and Caregiver Resource Library: Mass Partnerships for Youth offers a library of quick videos and handouts with information and strategies for common challenges that parents and caregivers encounter.
https://peaceathomeparenting.com/mpy-solution-libraries/
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MassHealth:
Children with disabilities may be eligible for MassHealth Child Disability Supplement. More information and forms are found at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/masshealth-child-disability-supplement/download
Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI):
Children who qualify for MassHealth and have Emotional, Behavioral or Mental Health needs may be eligible for integrated services through CBHI. Information can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/childrens-behavioral-health-initiative-cbhi
ARICA (An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism):
ARICA is a law that requires private health insurers in Massachusetts to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). More information is available through the Insurance Resource Center: https://massairc.org/factsheets/arica-faq/#page-content
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In This Issue...
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24-25 Integrated Preschool Program:
Our integrated preschool program has a few openings for typical peers. We offer half-day sessions of our program (either 9:00-11:45 or 12:45-3:30). Our classes serve children between the ages of three and five who require special education programming. The families of typically developing children are invited to apply so that our integrated classrooms educate children with disabilities alongside typically developing peers.
Instruction is delivered in a developmentally appropriate manner and focuses on a variety of skill areas including language, phonemic and phonological awareness, early literacy skills, gross motor, fine motor, math, and social skills. The curricula are aligned with the Massachusetts Frameworks for Preschool, which focus on readiness skills for Kindergarten.
If you are interested in enrolling your child for this year, please contact Kaitlyn Lancey at klancey@psharvard.org.
25-26 Integrated Preschool Program:
We are now accepting applications for peer models for the 2025-2026 school year. Children who live in Harvard or Devens and turn 3 years old on or before August 31, 2025 are eligible to apply. The Preschool Program is housed at the Hildreth Elementary School and is designed as a special education integrated preschool program. Our classes serve children between the ages of three and five who require special education programming. We include typically-developing peers to join our program as peer models.
Enrollment information can be found at our Integrated Preschool Program Page
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27A Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard MA, 01451 | (978) 456-4140
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