Gill-Montague School Committee Unanimously Approves Superintendent Beck's Annual Evaluation

GILL — May 9, 2023 — Gill-Montague School Committee unanimously rated Superintendent Brian Beck proficient in his annual state evaluation. All six voting members approved the evaluation at the May 9 meeting, with Beck meeting or exceeding benchmarks on goals tied to the proposed Hillcrest Elementary School building project, secondary writing assessment, and district wellness policy — though the wellness goal drew the most mixed individual ratings, with only one member marking it fully met. The committee also approved two accounts-payable warrants totaling $241,565.97 before the vote on Beck's evaluation. Assistant Superintendent Diane Shapiro led a public recognition of Spanish family liaison Ximena Cabeza de Brega, who completed two 45-hour professional certification programs through UMass Amherst in the past year. Director of Curriculum Gene Powers reported the district's Culturally Responsive Practices Leadership Academy had completed its first-year classroom observation cycle with consultants from Blackprint Incorporated, with a formal report pending. Baseball and softball teams raised more than $620 for the Western Mass Food Bank at a Turner's Falls fundraiser, and district enrollment showed a net positive swing of 80 students compared to the prior year.