Framingham Schools Tab John Brackett for Interim Post

The former SPS superintendent who retired last year takes over as interim assistant superintendent.

In June, Dr. John Brackett retired as the Superintendent of School in Sudbury. Thursday night, he was named the interim assistant superintendent of schools in Framingham, replacing Christine Tyrie who resigned to take a position with the Nantucket Public Schools. Brackett begins his new 6-month position today. Framingham Superintendent of Schools Steven Hiersche said Brackett comes to the position with a lot of experience - 20 years as a superintendent. Brackett will focus on curriculum and instruction and help make recommendations during the budget process, said Hiersche. Hiersche said he realized appointing someone from within the Framingham school system would leave a hole elsewhere during this budget season. He said he called the …

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Brackett: Last Day is Tomorrow

Sudbury Public Schools Superintendent is retiring a week early.

Thank you. Never have those two words seemed so hollow, but at this point I can't come up with anything more eloquent or profound to express my feelings about the opportunity to serve your children and you as superintendent of SPS for the last eight years. I'll let others define the results of our work over this time. For me, it was a time of joy, pride and many smiles as I interacted with the students and saw them grow as learners and young people. Who could dream of a better job than to hang out with great kids every day and know in some small way you were contributing to their growth. It has also been a rewarding, memorable, and incredible opportunity to work with outstanding educators, dedicated school committee members, and parents …

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Moving On

Sudbury Public Schools Superintendent John Brackett offers his final thoughts before retiring.

It’s June, we are less than a week away from the last day of school and that means the time for transition. It means moving from the school year to summer, from one grade to the next and for some, one school to another. As I do every year, I use this time to look back and reflect on the past school year, acknowledging those things we did not get done, but clearly amazed at all that has been accomplished. This year is also a time when I am reflecting not only on the past school year but on the past eight years in Sudbury and past 20 years as a superintendent. Believe me, I clearly understand how those who are facing transitions feel. Every day there is a swirl of the feeling of uncertainty about the next stage, the feeling of loss of the …

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Live Blog from the Lincoln-Sudbury Budget Forum

Discussion on the override budget planned for tonight.

UPDATED: 9:33 Dr. Brackett and Carpenter have wrapped it up for tonight. I'll get the remaining videos up when I get home (sorry if some of it is a bit wabbly). ------------ UPDATED: 9:15 P.M. Be sure to check out the video that got a bit heated between Sudbury residents and L-S teachers. I'll make it the lede video to the blog once I get a chance to upload it later tonight. ------------ UPDATED: 8:37 P.M. We'll have some video uploaded later tonight from the forum. ----------- UPDATED: 8:32 P.M. Carpenter has finished to a nice applause. Questions from the audience are next. ----------- UPDATED: 8:28 P.M. Carpenter is presenting a fact vs. fiction slide to answer rumors he's heard: ----- UPDATED: 8:07 P.M. Students would be displaced into…

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Sudbury Public Schools Declares Transportation Snow Emergency

Student safety concerns an issue regarding school bus pick-ups and drop-offs.

With all of the snow that has buried Sudbury this winter, roads and sidewalks have become narrower and dangerous to both motor vehicles pedestrians — and that includes students. Because of this, Sudbury Public Schools Superintendent John Brackett has issued a transportation snow emergency and plans to modify policies to address safety issues. "This is an extraordinary winter that is challenging all of us at work, at home and on the roads," Brackett said in a statement e-mailed to Sudbury Patch. "We are all going to have to work cooperatively to get through these times safely and sanely. "I shared with you that sidewalks are not plowed and roads are getting very narrow.  In some cases the roads are down to one reasonably passable lane.  …

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Seventh-Grader Takes Over for Superintendent Brackett

Curtis Middle School student Julia Davenport named 'Superintendent for the Day.'

When Julia Davenport was summonsed to the Curtis Middle School front office Wednesday morning just before 10, Superintendent Dr. John Brackett was waiting with one question for her. "Are you ready to shovel?" Julia's eyes grew in fear. She knew she was being named "Superintendent for the Day," but she had no idea what being superintendent entailed. "It's hard work being the superintendent," Brackett continued to joke. Julia, 12, a seventh-grader, soon realized the gag and smiled with the laughing Brackett. Julia, who said she would like to be a teacher some day, was given the honor as part of the HOPEsudbury Telethon in November. Brackett said he contributes to the fundraiser by giving parents of students in Sudbury the opportunity to bid …

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New England School Development Council asks Sudbury Citizens What They Want in a Superintendent

Workshop helps pinpoint what is necessary in a candidate.

Sudbury Public Schools Superintendent John Brackett announced in September he was retiring from his position. Since then, the Sudbury school district has begun the process of finding a replacement for him. The Sudbury Public School Committee has since hired the services of the New England School Development Council as a consulting firm. NESDC held a focus group meeting Thursday night and on Dec. 20 to ask parents what attributes they wanted in a school superintendent. Carolyn Burke and Arthur L. Bettencourt asked participants in Grange Hall essentially what qualities they wanted their future superintendent to have, in order to help the consulting firm narrow down candidates. All participants in the workshop must remain anonymous so that …

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Sudbury Public Schools Superintendent Announces Resignation

John Brackett to leave post at the end of the school year.

Sudbury Public Schools Superintendent John Brackett told the School Committee last night he will resign at the end of the school year. Brackett released a statement late last night, expressing the difficulty in making this decision. "This is the most difficult professional decision I have ever made," he said in the statement. "I feel blessed to have had this opportunity.  The School Committee members, the wonderful staff and the SPS community have made serving as superintendent very special.  I appreciate the support I have received and heartened by the progress we have made in Improving on Excellence. After much soul searching and with the support of my wife, Ann, I have decided it is time to move on to the next stage of my professional …

Sudbury Babe Ruth League Proposes New Field

Possible repairs to Peter Noyes Elementary School discussed.

Sudbury Town Hall was filled to capacity Tuesday night with supporters of a proposed new 90-foot baseball diamond at the Melone gravel pit. Sudbury Babe Ruth League president Scott McGavick and Mike Walsh, president of Sudbury Little League, came to the Board of Selectmen meeting asking the town for  $800,000 for the new regulation field at the Melone property, located on North Road and Route 117 on the Sudbury-Concord line. Money to pay for the field could come from the town's Community Preservation Act funds that address property development. "If you help us do this we can make it work," McGavick said to the Board. McGavick added that revenue would be generated both by ticket sales for local games and concessions sold at those games, as …

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