August 2022
Dear Freeport Families,
I'm excited to welcome you all back for the 2022-2023 school year. The past few years we have all learned the value of self-care, so I hope you and your families have been able to relax and recharge yourselves over this break. The long days of summer are the perfect time to decompress and enjoy life fully. It allows us to return to school with clear minds and a renewed purpose. We look forward to a year that will have us transcend as we continue to Be the Change in the lives of our students, their families and our colleagues.
We are delighted to welcome all our new staff who are excited to join us in our journey this year. They bring their knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm with them as they join our Freeport Public Schools family. We have had some changes and additions in our administration for this year. Idowu Ogundipe is our new Assistant Superintendent for Business; Jessica Romero is now the Principal of New Visions School; and Kelly Fairclough joins us as the Principal of Bayview Avenue School. We have two new Assistant Principals including George DiGiovanni who has become the Assistant Principal at Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School and Christopher Lomot, who will be at New Visons School. We have also hired a Director of Instructional Technology, Michael Fink, and a Supervisor of Security, Thomas Hunter. Each of these administrators bring experience, professionalism, and commitment to instruction and learning that will enhance the opportunities for our students.
This year we will continue our focus on educating the whole child along with addressing any learning gaps existing from the years of the pandemic. Our students made great strides last year, and we want to build upon that momentum towards mastery. Our efforts on improving the health and wellness of our students remains for this coming year. The pandemic left us with skills gaps in social emotional learning as well as students and staff who continue to cope with stress and the aftermath of trauma. We will continue to offer supports through our staff, outside resources, SEL programming and staff training. Our enhanced academic supports will continue during the school day as well as in our after-school enrichment programs providing our students with the best opportunities to excel and reach their full potentials.
We are excited to have many capital projects and improvements that are in the works or planned. Some of these projects include ventilation upgrades to improve indoor air quality, air conditioning in the auditorium and a turf field at Atkinson, and replacement of bleachers and upgrades of Science classrooms at Freeport High School. As always, we are busy with capital projects including security upgrades to doors and vestibules, classroom renovations, masonry work and bathroom renovations among others. Many of these projects will be funded through our ARPA/ESSER funding and our Capital Reserve Fund. Our beautiful, well-maintained buildings and grounds help create safe, comfortable learning environments for our students and staff.
Although we have returned to a greater state of normalcy, the CDC has issued new guidance for monitoring COVID in schools including removing test to stay and quarantine for exposure. Mask wearing is recommended for anyone who has been exposed to COVID for 10 days after the last exposure. Those who are more comfortable wearing masks are welcome to do so. If you believe you have symptoms of COVID, testing is recommended and, as always, it is important to remain home when you have signs of illness. Those with COVID must isolate for the required period and should wear a mask upon return through day 10. Vaccines are still our best defense and the district will continue to offer boosters shots and vaccines. By continuing to be vigilant and following the proper hygiene protocols, we can help maintain safe and healthy school environments. Further guidance may be forthcoming and we will keep you updated if there are any further changes.
Please enjoy the last few days of summer with your family and friends. I look forward to welcoming our students back for the 2022-2023 school year on August 31, 2022.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kishore Kucnham
Superintendent of Schools