Please see Dr. Haughey's letter regarding the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital survey below.
I am writing to personally apologize for the recent survey that was given to our students in grades 5-8 at Knox Trail MS. There appears to have been a communication breakdown in the past two weeks whereby we had mailed home a hard copy pink informational letter informing you that our middle school students would be participating in a "safety, health and wellness" survey with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Unfortunately, the communication that was sent home may not have made it to some of you, especially in grades five and six.
Further, upon receiving your feedback, we will make sure that communication is sent home to you as parents in multiple mediums, (backpack, email, and through our new SEBRSD App).
I want to assure you as the Superintendent of Schools that all students in grades five and six will have their survey results destroyed due to the young ages of our students in these grades.
What has become abundantly clear is that the first two questions of the survey were clearly confusing and beyond the scope of what our young people , especially in grades five and six. Additionally, the survey was just not appropriate for your children at these young ages.
With that said, I want you to know that we will improve our procedures of notifying you in multiple ways moving forward and making sure you as parents and families know that you are always able to “opt out” of any survey we put forward to our communities. Additionally, we will improve our communications to make sure you have ample notice and provide you with opportunity to communicate your choices accordingly to us.
We are here to serve the communities of Spencer and East Brookfield and your children. Our priority is to provide safe, and healthy learning environments, classrooms and schools for our students. Our administration, faculty and staff are truly working hard to identify student placed at-risk so that we may provide high quality programs and services to those who need them. In no way, were these surveys conducted to do harm or upset the public in any way.
To be clear, I am the Superintendent of Schools and the buck starts and stops with me and what goes on in the operation of a safe, orderly and healthy learning environment is my responsibility. I assume full responsibility for this error. It is my fault - not the School Committees and not the middle school administration, faculty or staff. They are truly working hard to keep children safe and healthy; and are working with our various stakeholders to create partnerships that will provide the “resources and supports needed” now and into the future for your children. Furthermore, I place a premium on making sure our students and staff always are and always will be safe when you give them to us. This goal was the intent of the survey, not any other.
Still, I make no excuses. I hear you as parents, families and guardians loud and clear; and assume full responsibility for this communication breakdown and assure you that we will do better moving forward as a school district I am sorry.
As always, I thank you for your continued partnership and support of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District. It is deeply appreciated! #Innovate #Inspire #Achieve
Sincerely Yours, Paul S. Haughey, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools