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Sweeny Elementary principal outlines five-year plan, progress on academics and attendance
Summary
Sweeny Elementary Principal Joel Addis presented a building needs assessment focusing on teacher clarity, academic progress measures, special education supports, and a plan to reduce chronic absenteeism; administrators used capital outlay and grant funds to remodel a sensory room.
Joel Addis, principal of Sweeny Elementary, presented the school’s needs assessment and five-year plan to the Derby Board of Education on Feb. 24, highlighting academic goals, implementation of teacher-clarity practices, and improvements in attendance and tiered supports.
Addis said the school set measurable goals including a 6% decrease in the number of kindergarten–fifth grade students scoring in state assessment levels 1 and 2 (reading, math and fifth-grade science) and a 3% reduction in chronic absenteeism; he noted the district’s prior-year chronic-absence figure of about 16.83% and reported that Sweeny’s first- and second-quarter rates were about 14.48% and 14.13%, respectively.
Addis described ongoing work on teacher clarity and PLC (professional learning community) processes: standards are being deconstructed into essential elements, learning progressions are being sequenced and learning intentions are used to connect goals to classroom practice. He showed examples of SMART goals, student-led IEP pages and classroom learning intentions tied to instruction and assessment.
Special supports and facilities: Addis described a remodel of the school’s sensory room using a combination of capital outlay funds, an MCAS grant, special services funding and building funds. The remodel separated storage and created a larger calm area and a smaller quiet space for students who need sensory supports.
Family engagement and recognition: Addis said Sweeny continues to work on family engagement, volunteer coordination (the “Swaney Support” effort) and attendance incentives. He highlighted building celebrations such as monthly character recognition and the rescheduled Panther Pals basketball event and noted volunteers and staff contributions.
Board members praised the presentation and asked no substantive follow-up questions at the time. Addis said the work ties to the school’s mission to be safe, respectful and nurturing while promoting learning and growth.
