Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
February 15, 2012
Joan M. Wickman
Superintendent
New Salem-Wendell Public Schools
18 Pleasant Street
Erving, MA, 01344
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Wickman:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the onsite visit conducted in your district in February, 2012. During the Mid-cycle Review the
Department monitored selected special education criteria to determine your district’s compliance
with special education laws and regulations. The review consisted of information gathered from
one or more of the following activities: staff interviews, review of student records, examination
of documentation, and/or classroom observation.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department has found your district to be in compliance with
all of the criteria monitored in your district during the Mid-cycle Review. The findings of the
Department are included in the enclosed report. You and your entire staff are to be congratulated
for your success in implementing the requirements included in these criteria.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled Coordinated Program
Review (CPR) several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate that this CPR will
occur sometime during the 2014-2015 school year unless the Department determines that there is
some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
1
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have questions
about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Marc Oldenburg at 413314-6707.
Sincerely,
Marc Oldenburg, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
cc:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jean Jonker Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Michael Yohan, School Committee Chairperson
Deborah Gerry, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
New Salem-Wendell Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: February 8, 2012
Date of this Report: February 15, 2012
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
SE 7
Transfer of
parental
rights and
student
participation
and consent
at age of
majority
Criterion
Implemented

Not
Applicable
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
New Salem-Wendell School
District serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade.
New Salem-Wendell Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 15, 2012
Page 1 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Review of student records,
documentation, and interviews
indicate that all required members
of the Team are present at Team
meetings. Also, the district does
employ the use of written parental
excusals for the absence of any
Team member. When a Team
member’s participation is required,
the excused member provides
written input for the development
of the IEP prior to the scheduled
meeting.

Document
Review
Interviews
Student
Records
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content

Document
Review
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Review of student records,
documentation, and interviews
indicate that the IEP is completed
using the elements of the most
current IEP format provided by the
Department, and IEPs are not
changed at a higher administrative
level. When the IEP Team
evaluation indicates that a student's
disability affects social skills
development or when the student's
disability makes him or her
New Salem-Wendell Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 15, 2012
Page 2 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
vulnerable to bullying, harassment,
or teasing, or if the student has a
disability identified on the autism
spectrum the IEP Team considers
and addresses the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment, or
teasing.
SE 25
Parental
Consent

Student
Records
Document
Review
Interviews
Review of student records,
documentation, and interviews
indicate that the school district
obtains written parental consent
before conducting an initial
evaluation and before making an
initial placement or initiating
extended evaluations. If the district
is unable to obtain consent after
initial evaluation and/or placement,
and the district determines this
action is a denial of FAPE,
resolution through BSEA is sought.
Furthermore, the district informs
the parent that consent may be
revoked at any time in writing, and
at the time of revocation the district
discontinues all special education
New Salem-Wendell Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 15, 2012
Page 3 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
services and informs the parents on
how to obtain a copy of their
procedural safeguards.
New Salem-Wendell Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 15, 2012
Page 4 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements