FALMOUTH — When schools open for classes on Sept. 2, it will be a learning experience for more than just the students.

Superintendent of Schools Geoff Bruno is new to the game, too.

“I’ve just been meeting as many people as I can and learning as much as I can before the fall hits,” Bruno said.

In addition to Bruno, the school system also hired two new assistant principals, a new middle school principal, and a new special education administrator to cover administrative retirements.

“We have just hired a brand new curriculum director,” Bruno said. “And we’re looking to … involve teachers at all levels in looking at what proficiency-based education looks like in Falmouth.”

Bruno noted there is also construction wrapping up at the middle school, including new science labs and music rooms. Work is also being done at the football field, with new restroom facilities, and a new athletic storage area. 

“Other than that, we’re looking pretty good facilities wise,” Bruno said. 

Bruno stressed the need to build on the department’s 24-month plan, which is Falmouth’s mechanism for strategic planning. It identifies community values and plans specific initiatives based on long-term goals.

“There are a lot of districts that do some strategic planning, but not to the specificity and not creating a document that really is a living, breathing document like this 24-month plan,” he said. “It starts with ‘OK, what does the community care about?’ And all the specific initiatives kind of branch off from that.”

Bruno said a compost program that has been successful in the elementary school will likely be added to the middle and high schools.

Bruno previously was an administrator in Saugus, Massachusetts. Before that he was curriculum developer for the Saugus district, and a middle school principal. He was the head of school at an urban charter school in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and an assistant principal there, too. He began his career as a middle school science teacher.

He and his wife and four children moved to Falmouth from Byfield, Massachusetts.

“It’ll be my first school day as superintendent, it will also be my first school day as a dad with four kids in a new town,” Bruno said, “so there’s a little professional and personal stake in getting the opening of school under way.”

Colin Ellis can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or cellis@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @colinoellis.

Sidebar Elements

Falmouth Superintendent of Schools Geoff Bruno after his first School Board meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, at Town Hall.