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Superintendent announces Baker School principal pick, updates finance search and outlines school-safety plans
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Smith announced Patrick Riley will be the next principal of Baker School effective July 1, updated the committee on the director of finance recruitment, and described district-wide safety work including a new response-app pilot and comprehensive threat assessment training.
Superintendent Dr. Smith told the committee April 7 that Patrick Riley has been selected as the next principal of Ezra Baker School, effective July 1.
"I am pleased to announce the selection of the next principal effective July 1 is Mr. Patrick Riley," Dr. Smith said. Riley previously served in the district as an assistant principal at Station Avenue and as principal at ME Small, and most recently was principal of Truro Central School, bringing both district experience and outside perspectives, Dr. Smith said.
Dr. Smith also updated the committee on the search for a director of finance. The district reposted the position after an initial round produced no hire; administration has identified five candidates to interview and expects to return to the committee with a recommendation in mid-May. The superintendent noted the committee must appoint the finance director because of the position's role in budgeting.
On safety, Dr. Smith described adoption of a Standard Response Protocol and a district app that will deliver lockdown/hold/evacuate alerts to staff and integrate with door-control systems. The district will pilot the system in smaller elementary schools this spring and aims for a full rollout and app-based drills by next fall. He also described Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) training the district attended with Sandwich Public Schools; the training establishes interdisciplinary teams and standardized forms to assess transient versus substantive threats and to guide responses.
Dr. Smith said the Cape and Islands superintendents are collaborating to host additional CSTAG training regionally to lower cost and expand participation. He also said the district will develop a template MOA/MOU for mass-evacuation third sites and consider shared drills with neighboring districts.
The superintendent noted preliminary discussions about improving camera coverage at elementary schools; the safety committee will define baseline coverage needs and estimate costs as part of the district's larger capital planning work. He said some training and collaborative costs were covered through available grant funding, but federal grant application processes can be complex and may require additional finance capacity to pursue.
Dr. Smith also recognized student arts on display at the Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Rotary Club of Yarmouth's $1,000 donation to the high school horticulture and garden project.
