“Spring is in the air, but not all spring flowers smell sweet! One of the first native plants to bloom in early spring is skunk cabbage and can be found across much of New England and the northern parts of the country. Sometimes called swamp cabbage, it is found near streams and bogs and is characterized by its signature stench.

Skunk cabbage is one of just a few plants that exhibit thermogenesis, or the ability to generate heat. Inside the pod, called a spathe, can be 20 degrees warmer than the surrounding air temperature for nearly two weeks, even in the snow!

As its name suggests, this plant emits a somewhat skunk-like scent that can also smell like rotten flesh. The putrid odor lures in its pollinators, primarily carrion-feeding flies, and gnats. The leaves are high in calcium oxalate which will cause animals irritation in the mouth and throat if ingested.”-Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

Photo Credit: 1) MassWildlife/Troy Gipps 2) Michael T.

Photo Credit: 1) MassWildlife/Troy Gipps 2) Michael T.

By Sam Drysdale
State House News Service

The University of Massachusetts has agreed to increase tuition, room and board next academic year, as leaders on Beacon Hill disagree over creating a “tuition lock” system and how much to invest in public higher education.

The UMass Board of Trustees voted during their quarterly meeting on Wednesday to increase tuition for in-state undergraduates by 2.5 percent, and increase room and board on the Amherst campus by 4.5 percent and on the Dartmouth and Lowell campuses by 2.7 percent.

Tuition for graduate students is also going up — 2.5 percent for in-state graduate students at the Amherst, Boston and Lowell campuses, 3.5 percent for medical students at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and 2 percent at UMass Law.

MassGrant, the state’s primary tool for providing need-based financial aid to students, has shrunk in its impact over the past few decades in the face of tuition increases and higher student demand. In 1998, the aid covered about 80 percent of tuition and fees at public universities. Today, it covers only 8 percent of tuition and fees for UMass students and 11 percent for state university students, according to a report from The Hildreth Institute.

The state contributed 9 percent of the aid available to students in fiscal year 2023, and federal free aid represented 15 percent of the available aid. Together, government aid contributed $137 million to UMass students’ tuition this academic year.

From 2001 to 2021, the inflation-adjusted national average for state-provided financial aid per full-time equivalent student increased 15 percent, Hildreth Institute researchers found. Over the same span, the inflation-adjusted amount of state aid per FTE Massachusetts student dropped 47 percent, the report says.

As government aid has struggled to keep pace with demand and tuition increases, university-generated financial aid has grown to represent 69 percent of free aid available for students — $395 million in fiscal year 2023. Of the university-generated aid, 81 percent goes to in-state students.

The tuition increases at the state’s public universities come against a backdrop of disagreement on investments into higher education on Beacon Hill.

Gov. Maura Healey recommended a $93 million expansion of the MassGrant Plus scholarship program, for low-income, in-state undergraduates. This increase, the largest proposed in the program’s history, would expand the scholarship to part-time students and cover additional direct costs of attendance such as fees, books and supplies. The Healey administration estimates the $93 million would provide 33,000 students with assistance.

The House Ways and Means Committee released its version of the state budget on Wednesday, where they earmarked $84 million for MassGrant Plus. Using newly-available dollars from a surtax on the state’s highest earners on expanding this scholarship program is one of the only areas where the two budgets align on higher education investments.

Healey recommended a total $360 million of the $1 billion that the state expects to bring in through the surtax be spent on higher education initiatives — and unique to her budget, which was drafted by former UMass finance official Matt Gorzkowicz, is a “tuition lock” proposal.

Under the governor’s plan, students attending UMass or state universities would lock in four years of the same tuition during their first year, though it could be increased for each incoming class of students. Healey proposes $59 million to offset costs for the initiative. She also recommended $140 million for one-time investments in capital improvement to public colleges and universities’ campuses.

House leaders’ version of the budget did not include capital improvements or the tuition lock proposal, though they proposed increasing the High Demand Scholarship Program from $2 million to $50 million. This scholarship is given to students pursuing “in-demand” jobs in Massachusetts, who commit to staying in the state five years after graduation. Healey’s budget did not include any money for this initiative.

The budget moves next to the House floor for debate, then over to the Senate, where senators will take their own approach to a higher education agenda.

“APRIL TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: MICHELLE DEBROSSE,

Pre-School Teacher at WILLIAM TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, has been a teacher at Taylor School for 20 years. This past year she decided to start a new adventure as a preschool teacher. Mrs. Debrosse has seamlessly adapted to the younger students and is making a difference in their lives every day. Her students love her as evident by their hugs and high fives.

Mrs. Debrosse has also been known to cheer on students at the baseball field on several occasions! We are beyond lucky to have Michelle Debrosse as part of our Taylor team!”-Rafaela DeFigueiredo Spence, Principal, William H. Taylor School.

New Bedford Public Schools photo.

The following is an opinion sent to New Bedford Guide. It does not reflect the opinion of New Bedford Guide, nor is it an OP-ED. In fairness and objectivity, we share opinions from our readers whether we agree or disagree with their opinion.

Do you have a counter opinion to this opinion? Have an opinion about something else? Email us at info@newbedfordguide.com.

_____________________________________________________________

“The New Bedford School District needs to give teachers more pay.

Hello. I am a student at New Bedford High School located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. On March 23 I was attending my art history class where we couldn’t paint because the teachers couldn’t afford it,

The school district and the city give teachers $2.50 for art supplies per student which is equivalent to $1,000 per every 300 students!

This is unfair. Teachers deserve fair pay and should be allowed to encourage students who have the desire to paint and draw. Our Art Teacher got into major trouble cause we had an assignment where we would draw on ‘fake’ dollar bills. A History teacher got offended by this and went to the head of the school and told on our beautiful art teacher because it was ‘hateful.’ Please keep me anonymous.

#TEACHERSNEEDFAIRPAY #NBHSDOSOMETHING #letusdraw.”

“What does the fox say? ? ‘Please make sure I am truly orphaned before taking action!’

Our first fox kit of the year is here and we’d like to take this opportunity to give everyone some helpful info on what to do when you find a baby fox (or other wild animals) to make sure we aren’t accidentally separating them from their family. Many species of wild canids start to wander from their parents as their eyes open and they start to explore the world.

Most of the time their parents are nearby and are keeping a watchful eye on them but know to stay hidden. Other times babies might get dropped if mom is moving them to a safer location. Unless the baby is visibly injured or in distress, it’s best to observe them to see if their parent will come back and retrieve them. Both mom and dad foxes play an active role in rearing young. You can call your local wildlife rehabber or wildlife hospital for help to assess the situation and setting up a safe spot to attempt a reunite.

<New England Wildlife Center photo.

In this particular case, the finders had heard him crying for a few days before they realized it was a fox kit. They texted us pictures so we could visually assess the baby. The pictures showed that one of the eyes was more sunken and squinted than the other. Due to concerns about dehydration and ocular trauma, the kit was brought in for assessment.

It is also important to avoid direct contact with rabies vector species (RVS) by using gloves and towels when placing babies in carriers. Even very young foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and other RVS can carry rabies so precautions should always be taken and you must never attempt to hand-feed these animals.

On physical exam our veterinary team noted that the kit was moderately dehydrated, indicating the likelihood that it most likely was orphaned and had not had a meal in a few days. An ocular exam also revealed that he had un ulcer on one of his eyes possibly from scratching it in thick brush trying to move around. We administered subcutaneous fluids and eye meds to start the healing process. He was also started on milk replacement formula for nutritional support. T

hough we do believe he is truly orphaned we have asked the finders to keep an eye out for adults or other kits in the area just in case. In the meantime this little guy will be with us for the entire summer as kits spend many months with parents before they are independent.

Our next step is to find him another orphaned fox kit to grow up with and bond to in order to limit the chances of him habituating to humans. If you suspect you have found an orphaned animal please give us a call to see if we can help!”-New England Wildlife Center.

<New England Wildlife Center photo.

Lifestream, Inc is now accepting applications for the paid summer Urban Youth Internship Program!

As a paid summer intern you will:

?Ensure that individuals have the resources to make informed choices and are active participants in decisions affecting their lives and the support received.
?Take the initiative to integrate individuals into the community in areas of his/her choice.
?Assist all individuals in meeting goals identified in all areas of the Individual Service Plan.
?Expose individuals to new ideas and choices, which assist in their continued growth and development.
?Have the ability to carefully monitor and supervise individuals served.
?Consistently advocate for the individuals served in all areas above.

To see the full job description please visit www.lifestreaminc.com/careers

Please share this with your favorite High School graduate!

The New Bedford School Committee is launching its Academic Achievement Subcommittee and a new reference tool to support families in their effort to engage in deeper discussions around district performance.

The NBPS Academic Achievement Public Dashboard will equip families with key information on how the school system is performing. The dashboard is a project of the NBPS Academic Achievement Subcommittee, which is comprised of Mayor Jon Mitchell and School Committee members, Bruce J. Oliveira and Joaquim “Jack” Livramento.

Mayor Mitchell stated, “The purpose of the Academic Achievement Subcommittee is to establish a platform in which school performance data that goes beyond the high-level information normally presented at the full School Committee hearings can be discussed, analyzed, and tracked according to the district’s annual goals. We believe it will enhance the public’s understanding of the work of the school system, and the opportunities it offers the City’s children.”

Noting the dashboard’s easy-to-use format, Superintendent Thomas Anderson stated, “Parents will be able to easily check the district’s benchmarks for progress through graphics. The dashboard is organized by elementary, middle, and high school levels that display comparative bar charts for a snapshot of progress. The creation of this tool, similar to the NBPS COVID tracker used during the pandemic, will provide the public with a wider lens on our district data points aligned with our strategic plan.”

“The Academic Achievement Subcommittee and Public Dashboard are groundbreaking efforts by a Mayor and Superintendent to provide the public with a deeper understanding about the student outcomes that are most important for academic success,” says Andrew Wolk, founder of Finding Common Purpose, the organization that developed the public dashboard. The organization was recommended after a consultation with former Massachusetts Secretary of Education and current Harvard professor, Paul Reville.

“I salute Mayor Mitchell and Superintendent Anderson for their courage in setting clear goals and providing a mechanism to report to the public on progress,” said Reville.

The dashboard features metrics that are aligned with the Superintendent’s annual goals. At the Elementary level, the dashboard data begins with Kindergarten Early Literacy benchmarks, quantified by Star Assessments. Preparing students to read is one of the primary responsibilities of school systems, and this early literacy assessment helps gauge where students are in the early grades. NBPS uses this data to establish action plans to best support student progress on a positive trajectory as they become highly literate.

Reading English Proficiency is documented in part by Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results in Third Grade. The third grade marks the transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Students who are proficient in reading at the end of third grade will be best set up for success in all subject areas as they move through school. To increase the number of students who are proficient at the end of third grade, NBPS provides additional literacy development resources to early elementary classrooms.

At the Middle School level, a key benchmark is the Sixth Grade Math Student Growth Percentile (MCAS). As most students make the transition from elementary school to middle school, math concepts get more complex. High levels of growth in 6th grade can be used as an indicator for students who are prepared to engage with these math concepts and those in science and technology. Acceleration is the focus of the new math curriculum the district is adopting.

Another important indicator at this level is chronic absenteeism – when a student has missed 10% of the school year at any point in time – schools implement attendance strategies to identify the root cause of the absences and encourage students to attend school every day.

At the High School level, English Language Arts (ELA) 9 Pass Rates (Gradebooks) is an important ELA benchmark. Students who are highly successful in their first year of high school English are more likely to participate in advanced coursework, like AP classes, in English, Social Studies/History, and the Arts later in high school.

In math, the Algebra I Pass Rate (Gradebooks) is a key benchmark. Students who are highly successful in their first year of high school Math are more likely to participate in advanced coursework, like AP classes, in Math, Technology, and the Sciences later in high school.

“These indicators and more are covered on the Academic Achievement Public Dashboard. It is our hope that parents will refer to it regularly as a tool to inform their questions about their child’s education,” Mayor Mitchell added.

The first meeting of the Academic Achievement Subcommittee will take place on Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Paul Rodrigues Administration Building. The public may view the meeting via Zoom: Meeting ID: 833 8264 2295, Passcode: 614559.

A link to the NBPS Academic Achievement Public Dashboard will be available on www.newbedfordschools.org.

“Matthew Carreiro, art teacher, at Roosevelt Middle School, initially taught elementary students at Gomes and has transitioned seamlessly into his role at Roosevelt Middle School.

He believes in his students, and their potential, and inspires them to create while developing a love for art. Along with teaching art classes, Mr. Carreiro also runs a club after school and just taught art during the ELA Acceleration Academy over February break.

His mindset and positive energy encourage his students and colleagues. He is able to build relationships and helps lead the conversation for enhancing the arts for students in New Bedford.

We are lucky to have Mr. Carreiro as part of the Fine Arts Department! Lynn Souza, NBPS Fine Arts Director.”-New Bedford Public Schools.

New Bedford Public Schools photo.

“University earns acclaim with Gold Ranking.

UMass Dartmouth is proud to announce that it has earned the 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School Gold designation! Surpassing more than 1,800 participating schools, the University has earned a gold standard amongst 665 institutions that excel in accommodating our student veterans.

With this distinction, UMassD continues demonstrating a commitment to the success and accommodation of student veteran communities. Military Friendly®’s assessment, which included an analysis of Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer), and Loan default rates, validates the University’s gold standard for student veteran support.

“We’re excited to be awarded the Military Friendly Gold designation as we have intentionally worked with our veteran and military students and Student Veteran’s Association to enhance their overall experience,” said Dr. Kimberly Scott, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UMass Dartmouth. “We will open a new veterans resource center in the coming weeks and look forward to celebrating this and other accomplishments of our student veterans.”

At UMass Dartmouth, veterans and active military duty students can expect a dedicated staff and resources to aid them in their academic journey. Student veterans are provided with a variety of assistance programs and financial benefits, as well as allocated physical spaces such as the Veteran’s Reading Room in the Claire T. Carney Library. Later this spring, the Veterans Resource Center will open, which was created to support military veterans and their family members. The center will serve as a place for military-affiliated students to meet with fellow veterans and learn about services and programs provided to assist them on their personal, educational, and professional journey.

The Military Friendly® Schools list comprises institutions that “show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.” The Military Friendly® Schools list is created yearly based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions.

The full list of Military Friendly® Schools can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

For more information about UMass Dartmouth’s student veteran programs, visit UMass Dartmouth’s website at www.umassd.edu/veterans.”

“Jessica Peixoto of Ellen R. Hathaway School in New Bedford receives national recognition for her best-in-class teaching and use of educational programs.

Curriculum Associates has named Jessica Peixoto of Ellen R. Hathaway School in New Bedford, MA to its 2023 class of Extraordinary Educators, an annual program that celebrates and connects exemplar teachers in Grades K–8 from around the country. Chosen from hundreds of nominations, Peixoto is among 30 educators from 22 states selected for exhibiting best-in-class use of i-Ready®, i-Ready Classroom Mathematics, and/or Ready®, illustrating growth and achievement via formal assessments, demonstrating innovation and engagement practices for students, being evangelists for high expectations and student achievement, championing equity, and having taught for at least two years.

“Teachers are true rockstars,” said Emily McCann, vice president of educator community at Curriculum Associates. “This year’s Extraordinary Educators are no exception—they were chosen from hundreds of nominations and represent the best of the best. We are happy to recognize and celebrate Jessica for her amazing work in the classroom and look forward to providing her with ongoing professional learning and networking opportunities to help her continue to grow her craft.”

Jessica Peixoto. Photo by Jessica Axt.

With nearly 340 years of combined teaching experience, this year’s class of Extraordinary Educators includes classroom teachers, special education teachers, and instructional specialists. All of the educators were ultimately selected by an advisory board featuring leaders from Curriculum Associates, previously inducted Extraordinary Educators, and a college student pursuing a degree in urban education.

The Extraordinary Educators will have continued access to a network of peers from around the country to collaborate, connect, and learn from throughout the year, as well as access to professional development opportunities from Curriculum Associates. They will also be invited to participate and present at the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit and other professional learning events.

“I am excited to be named an Extraordinary Educator because success matters to me,” said Peixoto. “I have always made sure that I instill and invest the drive to succeed in all my students and to their academic ability. I’m looking forward to learning more about data-driven insights and engaging and investing in my students’ learning at their highest level.”

This is the fourth year of the Extraordinary Educators program. This year’s class joins 110 additional educators from across the country in receiving this recognition.

Today, Curriculum Associates’ programs are used in two-thirds of Massachusetts school districts.”