By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Students returning to Massena schools this year will see some new faces with more than 30 new teachers, administrators and staff working in the district this year. In addition to that, asbestos tiles have been removed from the junior high.

Massena High School will have guidance counselor Janet Arcadi, special education teacher Meagan Kirchoff, social studies teacher Christopher Sanchez and teacher aide Jessica Smith.

At J.W. Leary Junior High, new faculty, staff and administrators include teacher aide Maryann Barnes, special education teacher Leigha Burkhalter, cafeteria monitor Dawn Dutch, social studies teacher Ryan Hewer, physical education teacher Alexander Kormanyos, English teacher Cherie McGowan, principal Alan Oliver (transferred from Madison Elementary) and music teacher Emily Robideau.

Nightengale Elementary’s new faculty includes elementary teachers Amanda Converse, Andrea Crow and Jennifer Hannah-Albon, music teacher Caitlin Walton and teacher assistants Erin Cootware and Kari Hanson.

New faces at Madison Elementary are teachers Amy Fields, Kristen LaCombe and Meghan Watson, special education teacher Anna Hendershot, music teacher Nichelle Burnett and teacher assistants Allison Holliday and Shannon Oldenburgh.

At Jefferson Elementary, new faculty are teachers Courtney Blanchard, Errolynn Bradley, Amanda Chapman, Courtnee Charleson and Courtney Johnson and teacher assistant Mary Carr.

New districtwide hires include director of curriculum Stephanie Allen, school psychologist Megan Castell and human resources assistant Alexa Sobon.

Superintendent Pat Brady says there are more new hires pending.

Brady says three of his major goals this year are implementing a strategic plan, looking at a “community schools model” and enhancing technology use.

He said the strategic plan is aimed at “increasing student achievement, graduation rates and attendance.”

“We have set some ambitious targets and I look forward to the professional discussions on how we can build on the great work being done in our schools,” Brady said.

He says the community schools idea is aimed at increasing “our outreach to families in need of services.”

“The state has provided some additional funding for this effort which will include counseling, mentoring, and after school programming among other initiatives,” he said.

He says the Smart Schools Bond Act can help the district “broadband and computer devices so students have the latest tools for learning.”

Leary junior high had what Brady described as “a small capital outlay project” over the summer, which removed asbestos tiles from the cafeteria, classrooms and small closets.

“The work is now finished and this building along with all other buildings will be ready for the start of school,” Brady said. “We are working on our Five Year Plan in preparation of a future capital project but do not have any planned for this year.”

He said he won’t know enrollment until opening day.

“We tend to have many students enroll right up until the last day,” he said.

The district will not have any significant changes to busing. For a complete busing schedule, go to http://bit.ly/2bChtLV.

Parent-teacher conferences are set for Sept. 13 at Madison, Sept. 14 at Nightengale, Sept. 15 at Jefferson and Sept. 20 at the junior high.

Brady said teachers are working to “prioritize the Common Core standards as not all are equal in value of learning.”

“Some require more time and intensity. We will be using these prioritized standards to help guide our selection of new K-8 benchmark assessments, which are part of our new Strategic Plan,” Brady said. “Finally, all elementary staff will be reading ‘Teaching Critical Vocabulary in Common Core’ as part of our goal to improve student achievement.”

He said state assessments have been shortened and are no longer connected to teacher evaluations, which he says could have positive results.

“Hopefully, this will build greater trust in the system and encourage parents to allow for better student participation,” Brady said.

He said at the urging of state education officials, teachers Barbara Hewlett, Shelley Carroll and Melissa Power recently traveled to Albany to help review state standards and assessments.