Northborough/Southborough Schools superintendent explains goals for the school year

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH - From goals surrounding instruction to collecting student data, Northborough/Southborough Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Martineau laid out his goals for the year during a Combined School Committee meeting Sept. 14.

Martineau’s evaluation began with a self-assessment examining how he is performing based on feedback from his evaluation in the spring. Martineau then identified his goals to propose to the school committees.

Southborough School Committee Chair Roger Challen asked Martineau how he knows whether a goal is too much to bite off.

“Because there’s the old jack of all trades syndrome that sort of exists everywhere,” Challen said.

Martineau said his goals are the district’s goals. The district’s curriculum directors have parallel goals.

“It’s really the thinking that we’re all working toward this work,” he said.

Goal focuses on instruction, collaboration

Martineau’s first goal centers around instruction and, specifically, looking at how schools can collaborate to make sure they are implementing consistent, high-quality instructional practices and encouraging innovation.

“I think, over the past year, many of our practices were no longer feasible as a result of the pandemic,” Martineau said. “We’ve learned a lot around what we can do and can’t do in terms of innovation.”

He said he wants to continue the out-of-the-box thinking that teachers did during the height of the pandemic.

Second goal centers on equity

Martineau’s second goal focuses on equity of opportunity.

One of the initiatives under this goal is having the district collect and use student learning data. Specifically, Martineau talked about providing dashboards to staff so they can see how a student and students across a course have performed on an assessment.

Additionally, under this goal, one of the initiatives is to continue to foster culturally responsive and inclusive communities and environments that set up students to access and excel in school programs.

His third goal is to prioritize the social, emotional and phys- ical well-being of students.

His fourth goal, meanwhile, deals with educator learning and leadership.

Fifth goal breaks down finance, operations

Martineau’s fifth goal is about the district’s finance and operations, focusing on support for teaching and learning.

“Obviously, resources and the budget is an important part in the process to accomplish the goals that we set out for students,” Martineau said.

He said the schools work with town staff in Northborough and Southborough as well as the police and fire departments to make sure the schools are safe and to make sure the schools connect to town master plans.

One of Martineau’s initiatives under this goal is to examine and maximize the district’s energy efficiency.

“Ultimately, I think we want to reduce our carbon footprint and have sustainability goals as a district,” Martineau said.

Plan to be implemented soon

The plan will be implemented through the spring. In the middle of the process, Martineau will report in his progress toward his goals before his summative evaluation next June.

“I’d just like to say, another great job, Greg, in coming up with a lot of meaningful goals. I think we’ll do a lot to push the district forward,” said Regional School Committee Chair Paul Desmond.

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Northborough fire | from page 3 for waking him up.

“I can’t put into words how much I thank her for her immediate response,” Mike said. “She was immediate. She was aggressively loud and in a very serious demeanor to wake you up.”

Fire trucks raced to the scene. But the building’s Unit One was fully engulfed by the time those firefighters arrived, Mike said.

Kevin Hunt remembered, mourned following fatal fire

Northborough Fire Chief David Parenti said they received the report at 4:20 a.m. on Sept. 10 of a fire.

Firefighters tried to enter Unit One but could only get so far inside because of how heavy the fire was, Parenti said.

By the time they did enter, they found the fire had killed a man later identified as Kevin Hunt.

Hunt, 40, was born in Rochester, New Hampshire, before moving to Shrewsbury, where he attended Shrewsbury High School, according to his obituary. He was involved in various sports but “was most passionate about hockey,” scoring Shrewsbury’s game-winning goal in the 1999 high school state championships.

He played hockey at Worcester State while pursuing a degree in business administration.

“Kevin had a very successful career in medical sales and enjoyed his career very much,” his obituary noted. “He continued to be active in hockey and golf, as well as an avid Boston sports fan.”

Hunt had two children with his former wife, Kristal.

“Kevin’s true passion was his incredible love and devotion to his two children,” his obituary continued. “They were the love of his life and he was theirs. He was a truly devoted and loving father to his children.”

‘Northborough just always had that home feeling’

Mike was raised in Northborough before he moved to Leicester in the third grade.

Mike and his family have lived in their Maple Street home for the past three years. They have three children, Declan, 4, Sawyer, 3, and

MichaelEnzo, who is nine months old. The children were not home on the night of the fire, though.

Mike loved the Northborough community as he grew up. He said the school system was excellent. The people were kind. Children played outside.

“It’s safe,” Mike said.

“Northborough just always had that home feeling,” he continued.

Mike didn’t know Hunt personally, though he met him several times.

“He came across genuinely kind and friendly and approachable,” Mike said.

“A mother and father lost their son, and two children lost their father,” Mike said. “Possessions can be replaced. Life — you only have one. I couldn’t imagine what this family is going through. Our deepest condolences from our family to theirs.”

Fire Marshal: fire originated in apartment’s bedroom

A Southborough firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion experienced during this fire.

According to a press release from State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey, the fire originated in the bedroom of Hunt’s apartment.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, though there wasn’t evidence that the fire was intentional.

When authorities examined the scene after the fire, they didn’t find any working smoke alarms in any of the five units, one of which was vacant, the press release said.

“Smoke alarms can’t help you escape a fire if the batteries are missing or expired,” Parenti said in the release.

Family starts GoFundMe campaign

In the hours after the fire, questions began running through Mike’s head.

Where are they going to live? Where would their children stay? How do you explain this to the children?

“They have nothing to go back to,” Mike said. “At such a young age, we’re lucky they weren’t there because they didn’t endure trauma.”

Neighbors offered water.

One neighbor offered to have the family stay in their basement.

One person paid for the family to stay at a hotel for a week.

Community members stepped up and have donated funds, including to their GoFundMe, which can be found at https:// gofund.me/5aff499e.

Specifically, the family is looking for gift cards to places like Walmart, TJ Maxx and Marshalls and children’s clothing stores like Carter’s.

Additionally, Mike’s Cash App is $itzthekidd and his Venmo is @ MikePizzarella.

Mike invites any landlords who may have at least a twobedroom apartment available to reach out to Mike via text at 508389-3810. Anyone who wants to donate baby wipes and size three diapers for MichaelEnzo can also reach out.

“I want to thank the Town of Northborough for coming together on the day of the fire with donations,” Mike said. “It was so fast and overwhelming. We’re so grateful that there are so many good people out there that want to help.”