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Superintendent Bill outlines year-end results: attendance up, proficiency gains and fewer suspensions
Summary
Superintendent Bill presented year-end district metrics and an updated organizational chart, reporting improved attendance rates across buildings, double-digit proficiency gains in several schools, declines in suspensions, and a new hire (Adam Paradis) to lead culture, attendance and family engagement.
Superintendent Bill presented a year-end closeout to the Southbridge School Committee on July 14, highlighting districtwide gains in attendance and academic measures and outlining an updated organizational chart ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
Bill told the committee he wants principals to "feel confident and supported" and outlined staffing changes: Judy will serve as deputy superintendent and chief academic officer, Joe will add operations to his HR responsibilities, and Adam Paradis will join the district in a full-time role focused on culture, climate, attendance, data, family engagement and community partnerships.
The presentation listed school-by-school metrics. According to the superintendent, Eastford Road achieved a 92.1% daily attendance rate and reduced chronic absenteeism by almost 25%, with a reported increase in grade-level proficiency of 27.4% in math and 24.9% in ELA. Arulton Street showed a 93.1% attendance rate and nearly a 30% drop in chronic absenteeism with notable proficiency gains. The middle school posted a 93.2% attendance rate, a roughly 22% decrease in chronic absenteeism, and cut suspensions by nearly 20%. Southbridge High showed increases in average SAT results over two years (an average 60-point increase in ELA and 43.7% increase in math performance as stated) and an approximately 10 percentage-point rise in graduation rates, including for students with disabilities.
Bill also highlighted specific practices—using ELA and math benchmarking (i-Ready), data thermometers in classrooms, and building-level outreach such as home calls and visits—that he credited with improving attendance and achievement. He emphasized the district’s focus on maintaining high expectations while reducing suspensions and said communication with families and staff remains a top priority.
The superintendent’s figures were presented during a truncated slide deck; committee members asked for larger display when audiovisual issues arose. Bill said Adam Paradis will attend the August meeting to introduce himself to the committee.
(Reporting note: metrics and percentages cited are as stated by the superintendent during the presentation. Some school and staff name spellings in the transcript were inconsistent; the article uses the most likely standardized names where the district or meeting referenced them.)
