Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham. File Photo
By Gayla Cawley
LYNN — The school superintendent and her administrative team welcomed 110 new teachers to the district on Tuesday.
Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham, her two deputy superintendents, and other Lynn administrators held an orientation session at Marshall Middle School. There, she talked to the new teachers about resources available to them, which includes a SMART board and computer in each classroom.
Teachers discussed topics including data literacy, educator evaluations, school security and technology.
“It is always uplifting to see the enthusiasm new teachers bring to the district,” Latham said in a statement. “We have a very good group this year.”
Latham also gave an overview of the district during orientation.
One district project nearing completion is the addition of a modular building with two classrooms, which will be built next to Tracy Elementary School to help ease overcrowding. Last year, enrollment for the school was at 440 students.
The $500,000 modular, pre-constructed building is expected to be ready for use by early October. Thomas Iarrobino, secretary of the Lynn School Committee, said site work has been underway for a week. Work includes setting up the foundation of the pad.
The module delivery itself is scheduled for the week of Sept. 19. The building will be dropped on the site and connected to the pad. Ramps will be added to it the week of Sept. 26, he added.
Before the building is ready, two fifth grade classrooms will temporarily be located in the gym. This will also change the morning entry into the building. Last year, students were able to enter the school and have breakfast, socialize and go to the classroom at 7:45 a.m. This year, the children will wait outside the building until 7:45 a.m, according to the Tracy School website.
Iarrobino said the reason for the modules is to create additional space from current buildings. The student population this year has gone past 16,000 kids. Five years ago, 14,000 students attended Lynn schools. Tracy already uses another module building. The Edward A. Sisson, Hood, Ford and Ingalls elementary schools also have modular classrooms.
Renovation work on the Ford School module took place over the summer, Iarrobino said. He said it’s been gutted and built out almost like a brand new module. The purpose was to update the building and make it more comfortable.
The first day of school in Lynn is Sept. 7 for grades 1 to 6 and 9, and a day later for all other grades.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.