New superintendent wants to hear from community

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

BELCHERTOWN - The school system is welcoming a new superintendent this year, an administrator who said she plans to hear from the local community before deciding what financial challenges to tackle first.

Superintendent Judith C. Houle, who formerly worked as director of curriculum in Somers, Conn., recently replaced Richard Pazasis, who retired after 11 years as superintendent and 15 as a Belchertown school administrator.

Houle said she realizes that due to a struggling state economy, she has to be prepared to take control of the school system amid challenging budget cuts and less available state aid - but said she wants to hear from local residents before making any major decisions.

"I'm currently having preliminary discussions with the town about how to account for less funding that we anticipated," Houle said.

"I want to listen to people over the next few months and hear what their concerns are. I want to know what are some key issues so we can figure out how to make the quality of education here the best it can be."

In order to make herself more accessible to town officials and the parents of local students, Houle created a "superintendent's corner" on the schools' Web site, including a link to a document outlining her general entry plan for the district.

The first step in the entry plan, Houle said, will be conducted this month, when she meets with various members of the schools' committees, staff and town officials to gather a better understanding of the district and the financial obstacles it faces.

"I really want to hear from the community, the fiscal issues that we face are what we are going to be looking at," Houle said.

"The state department has come out with some framework about what they want children to know and do, so we have to examine our curriculum to see how we line up with that framework."

Houle said she is encouraged with recent progress made toward the development of 35 acres around Lake Wallace, which was purchased by selectman in July for use as athletic fields and as a learning laboratory. "We are excited to see the progress on the purchase of Lake Wallace and Foley Field," Houle said in an announcement on the schools' Web site.

"This project, which is a cooperative venture on many parts, will allow us to have access to Lake Wallace as a learning laboratory for our students. Everyone who has been involved in this project deserves a hearty congratulations on a job well done," she said.

Residents with questions about the upcoming school year or who are interested in viewing Houle's entry plan are encouraged to visit the department's Web site, www.belchertownps.org.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com