Principal Jim O’Shea greets Erik Johnson as he steps off the bus at Bromfield on the first day of school. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Even the lack of a true summer vacation doesn’t keep Bromfield Principal Jim O’Shea from looking forward to the first day of school.

O’Shea explained that he spends a great deal of time at the school during the summer months working out everything that needs to be in place before the students return at the end of August. O’Shea’s summer included work on scheduling, time spent in meetings, and interviewing new teachers.

“Although there aren’t any major curriculum changes, there are a few staffing changes,” said O’Shea in an interview with the Press. New teachers include seventh-grade English teacher Erin Walsh, as well as Janis Dyer, who will teach seventh-grade social studies.

“This summer’s been a little different because of Mr. Fernandez passing away,” said O’Shea. “I’ve been busy trying to keep people in touch, letting them know what to do, and with details regarding the arrangements.”

Steve Favulli, a former world language teacher at Bromfield, has been hired as a guidance counselor for the coming year.

“Mr. Fernandez was a great guy, a great colleague, and it’s a terrible loss for the school and the community…[Mr. Favulli] has got big shoes to fill, but we think he can handle the challenge.” Favulli has already contacted all of the Bromfield seniors he will be working with this year, and O’Shea said he feels confident that the college application process will not be harmed.

Bromfield has also found two long-term substitutes for the beginning of the 2008 school year—Joan Wallace to fill in for special education teacher Michele Creaven, and Suzanne Wayne to cover for ninth-grade English teacher Chris Jones.

Additional staffing changes include the new position of team leader, which will be filled by former special education teacher Cheryll Temple. O’Shea explained the idea behind this position is for Temple to take over much of the scheduling and planning necessary in the special education department, to leave the teachers more classroom time to work directly with students.

Other staffing changes in the special education department include Mary Anne Conte, who has moved from the Learning Center to eighth-grade special education, and Maryanne Allard, a former teaching assistant who will now be in the Learning Center.

With all these changes in place, O’Shea said he feels prepared for the start of the school year.

“The building is in great shape,” he commented. “Our custodial staff has done a great job cleaning up, fixing things that need to be fixed, and getting ready to open the school.”

“I’m looking forward to a great year,” he added. “As always, it’s a tremendous staff, the faculty’s on board and ready to go, great students will be coming in the door [on Wednesday], and we’re just hoping we can have a wonderful year and really focus on those things the Bromfield School has historically done…having high expectations for our students, working hard to help all of our students reach those expectations, and taking the time with the students to make sure their experience is everything it really can be. That’s what it’s always been about, that’s what’s made us great in the past and that’s hopefully what’s going to make us have a great year this year.”