More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
The latest Wellesley Public Schools news:
The Wellesley Educators Association, which gathered on Saturday for another rally at Town Hall, issued a vote of no confidence in Supt. Dr. David Lussier and the School Committee. Members of the union have been working without a contract since July of 2022, and the state’s Department of Labor Relations is now stepping in by assigning a mediator.
The resolution issued by the WEA stated that members voted no confidence in the superintendent and School Committee “due to their failure to support common-sense, student-centered proposals that are critical to preventing the deterioration of the quality of education in the Town of Wellesley…”
The School Committee holds its next public meeting on March 21, and the agenda includes a closed-door executive session regarding negotiations with the union.
School Committee member Catherine Mirick, part of the bargaining team, said in a statement: “The School Committee has been bargaining in good faith for more than a year with the Wellesley Educators Association. We have agreed to 34 of the proposals that the WEA brought forward and, in the month of February, we offered more concessions. Despite all of this movement, including an unprecedented financial package, the Committee has seen no similar movement from the WEA. Negotiations require both parties to find common ground and compromise and, thus far, the WEA has been unwilling to do this.”
Mirick said the Committee is hopeful that working with a mediator will result in a resolution.
The WPS website includes an FAQ with updates on the collective bargaining progress, and says the School Committee has scheduled mediation sessions with the WEA coming up on March 22 and April 6 (the first was on March 17).
The Wellesley Public Schools issued a vote of confidence for Dr. Jorge Allen, who was named director of diversity, equity, and inclusion effective July 1. He’s been serving in that role on an interim basis since June.
Allen joined the school system at the start of last year as K-12 program coordinator of English language learners.
WPS will be seeking a new English Learners director effective July 1.
Dr. Lisa Damour will discuss “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers” at an event on Thursday, March 23 at 7pm at the Wellesley Middle School auditorium. The program is sponsored by the Wellesley High and Wellesley Middle School PTOs. RSVP required.
SPONSORED POST: Thirty years ago, EXPLO reimagined camp—and launched the EXPLO Junior Program, a groundbreaking residential and day program for bright and curious 9-12 years olds. EXPLO Junior is a place where kids joyfully chase their curiosity by choosing from scores of highly engaging project-based courses. Plus, they dive into a wide array of activities, sports, arts, and adventures. It’s a place where they can exercise their minds and bodies. Young people from around the world and across the U.S. come to EXPLO Junior.
Now they’re nearby at Regis College in Weston with an immersive day option running 12+ hours a day. Bus transportation is available. Exciting programming from morning until night gives parents and families maximum flexibility. Work running late, errands to run, friends to see in the evenings? While your kids are having the time of their lives at EXPLO, you can relax and know you are doing good for them and for you. Learn more.
SUMMER PROGRAM: EXPLO Junior, https://explo.org/explo-junior-overview
LOCATION: Regis College, Weston
PHONE: 781-762-7400
OPTIONS: Residential or day programs
Wellesley Select Board chair Lise Olney will hold office hours via Zoom on Thursday, March 23, 9am-10:30am.
Residents may ask questions, give input, and share concerns about Town operations, economic development, and other issues.
Email Lise Olney directly at lolney@wellesleyma.gov to schedule a 15-minute appointment. You’ll receive a reply confirming your appointment time and the Zoom link, if applicable.
The latest Wellesley, Mass., sports hightlights:
Wellesley High junior Christopher Brooks this past weekend won the 60m dash at the New Balance Nationals Indoor track meet in Boston, which attracted some 3,500 athletes from all over the country. The 60m dash event itself featured 110 runners.
Brooks dashed across the finish line in just 6.95 seconds, 0.01 seconds ahead of the next speediest runner in the Rising Stars event.
The Wellesley High runner is coached and supported by Jim Everhart and fellow WHS Track & Field staff.
Other WHS athletes competing at the games included 4 x 200m relay team of Brooks, Ryan Harding, Tyler Yen and Connor O’Neil, as well as Tyler Yen in the long jump, and Lillie Caiazzo in the girls’ 60m hurdles.
The Eastern Mass. Senior Softball League has opened its annual registration for players age 50 and over. The 450-plus member slow-pitch league draws numerous players from Wellesley and surrounding towns, and games are played in Wayland, Medfield, and Framingham.
The EMASS season opens in late April with 16 or more weeks of regular season games and year-end playoffs completed by Oct. 1.
About EMASS Senior Softball League
EMASS was founded in 1995. Skill levels range from casual recreational players to those who play on nationally competitive tournament teams. Players of any skill level will find a spot with teams of similar abilities in one or more of EMASS’s six divisions. There are two Saturday divisions and four weekday divisions. All divisions play a double-header each week and many members play on different teams in multiple divisions.
The Wellesley Police Department is hosting CPR & Water Safety classes this spring, in partnership with the American Red Cross.
Register for classes on Tuesday, April 25 or Thursday, April 27. Participants must be at least 16 years old.
This program is designed to teach participants how best to respond in an emergency, using Red Cross emergency care techniques. The 3-hour course will review adult, child & infant CPR and choking emergencies along with with water safety/drowning prevention tips. All necessary materials will be provided during the class.
The cost for the class is $25/participant (waivable due to financial hardship). Participants successfully completing the course will receive an American Red Cross certification valid for 2 years.
Contact the Wellesley Police Department at 781-235-0062 with questions or to request a waiver.
SPONSORED CONTENT: Thanks to NEOC (pronounced nē-äk) for their swell sponsorship of The Swellesley Report’s Summer Camps page.
NEOC is a premier summer day camp experience that connects campers to nature through encouragement of their personal interests. Additionally, NEOC is a throw-back to vintage summer camps where children explored and played outside at an easy pace and without any technology at all. The NEOC team offers attentive customer service and convenience-focused amenities to support the needs of parents and families. REGISTER HERE.
Check out more great summer programs at The Swellesley Report’s Summer Camps page.
