School Chief Serves Food, Seeks Feedback

New Superintendent of Schools Jay Cummings never expected the success of his first week would depend in part of the generosity of the secretary Beth Thurlow.

"I am going to have to send her a thank you card,'' Cummings quipped at his first School Committee meeting since starting July 1. "Or maybe send her flowers.''

But with the school's computer system shaky for a few days, he relied on Thurlow to print out items from his flash drive and otherwise provide support and assistance.

The Department of Public works office is located across the hall from his new office.

She was far from the only one who helped ease his transition, he said. He thanked office staff, public officials and the general public for being helpful and welcoming.

And he is looking forward to meeting the public and receiving feedback on the direction and operation of the school system. What he learns will help him determine decisions regarding the upcoming changes in the district and the needs of everyone associated with the schools. 

He will host morning sessions of "Coffee with the Superintendent’' in the school department conference room at the from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, Thursday, July 28 and Wednesday, Aug. 3.

To accommodate people who are not able to meet in the morning, he will also host a meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at . Pizza and salad will be served to both adults and children and Cummings will attempt to provide childcare.

Anyone interested in attending the Aug. 4 event should email Cummings at cummingsj@grafton.k12.ma.us. He can be reached at that address by anyone interested in communicating with him on school-related subjects.