Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Rabinovitch presented the School Committee Wednesday, August 3 with a self-evaluation of his work over the previous year. Rabinovitch, whose three-year contract was renewed in June, rated himself 49 out of 60 points in meeting his goals and objectives and 38.8 points out of 40 in achieving his “general responsibilities.”

Rabinovitch is evaluated annually on his progress in meeting goals set in the prior year and his performance in “general responsibilities,” which include: Rabinovitch's relationship with the School Committee, community relationships, staff and personnel relationships, educational leadership, business and finance, and personal qualities.

Members of the School Committee will review Rabinovitch's self-evaluation and present their assessment of the superintendent at the next School Committee meeting. Chair Kenneth Fontes will then take an average of the scores to determine the superintendent's overall rating, which can range from zero, or “unacceptable,” to four, or “outstanding.” The results will be presented in September.

Rabinovitch was rated “satisfactory” last year, which earned him a $3,000 pay increase.

If Rabinovitch is scored from 0 to 64 points by the School Committee, he will earn a $1,000 raise. If he is scored from 65 to 79, he will be awarded $3,000, while he will receive $4,000 if scored 80 to 89 points and $5,000 if scored from 90 to 100 points. (The $1,000 raise is eliminated from Rabinovitch's new contract, which began on August 1, but because the evaluation is for last year, he is evaluated and earns raises based on his previous contract.)

Rabinovitch and the School Committee set four goals in the areas of student achievement, technology, school and community partnerships, and procuring resources.

Rabinovitch gave himself 16 out of 20 points for student achievement, noting new methods of student assessment, the implementation of new math and science programs, and modifications to the performance evaluation for high school teachers as evidence of progress to increased achievement.

In the area of technology, Rabinovitch scored himself nine out of 10 points, pointing out the creation of a long-range technology plan and a plan for upgrading the district's network as among the indicators progress was made toward the use of technology to improve learning, instruction, and organization.

Rabinovitch awarded himself 16 points out of 20 in his efforts to facilitate partnerships between the school district and the community to enhance education. In this area, he pointed out the creation of the district's Bullying Prevention Plan, which parents helped compile, his participation in the planning of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast, and his informational television show airing on Wareham Community Television, among other projects, as reasons progress was made toward the goal.

As for the final goal of procuring sustainable resources to provide “an excellent learning experience,” Rabinovitch scored himself eight out of 10 points. He noted that the district created a proposal and received Community Preservation Committee approval for funding to be used to preserve its Everett Educational Center building. The funding was not obtained, however, as the proposal was not ultimately approved by Town Meeting. Rabinovitch also pointed out the ongoing work to secure funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority to renovate and expand Minot Forest Elementary, among other accomplishments, as progress toward this goal.

Among the reasons he scored himself 38.8 points out of 40 in “general responsibilities,” Rabinovitch cited: His good working relationship with the School Committee, his attendance at community events and work with various civic organizations, his mentoring of administrators and good relationships with employees, and participation on advisory committees and the district's success in obtaining grants to support programs.

Rabinovitch noted he had help in working toward his goals and thanked his three directors - Director of Operations and Finance Ana Miranda, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jan Rotella, and Director of Student Services Robert Louzan – for their assistance throughout the year.

“Many of these goals have been a group project,” Rabinovitch said. “We've worked on them together.”

Rabinovitch also thanked the school principals and employees.

“This educational business that we have, the most important part happens in the classroom between teachers and students,” he said. “It's about the education of children.”