Hildreth Elementary School energy upgrades to begin
Jim Elkind and Brian Smith of the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee reported to the School Committee that the energy control system at Hildreth Elementary School will be upgraded over the April vacation. Work that can be done without impact on building occupants can begin before then, they said.
The goal, they told the committee, is to give the elementary school the same energy control system and interface that has already been installed at Bromfield, both for the energy savings and for ease of use. Because National Grid has cut back sharply on its funding for these improvements, they said, the project will be paid for with money from a Green Communities grant instead.
Survey will study risky behavior
Sometime in March, Bromfield students at several grades will take the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Superintendent Joe Connelly reported to the School Committee. This survey, administered through Emerson Hospital, asks students to respond anonymously to questions on topics that range from seat belt use and stress to bullying, sexual activity, and substance abuse.
Connelly said that the survey will help Harvard schools develop an appropriate wellness curriculum that meets the needs of students here. Bromfield Principal Jim O’Shea said that educators will gain a better understanding of “the challenges that students are facing day to day.”
Connelly explained that parents will be able to view a copy of the survey in the Bromfield office. Parents who do not wish their children to participate can opt out, he said.
Harvard will receive the results of the survey by the end of the school year, according to Connelly. In addition, data from Harvard will be aggregated with that of nearby towns that already use the survey, including Acton, Boxborough, Concord, Littleton, and Westford.
The survey takes about 45 minutes and is given to students in grades six, eight, and nine through 12. Emerson Hospital covers the cost of the survey as part of its community benefits program. Currently, about 8,500 students participate in the survey, according to the Emerson Hospital website.
