CONTACT:  Wendy V. Long, Public Relations

                        (413) 685-1003

Educators attended preparatory accreditation seminar

Huntington- Kathleen McSweeney, Principal of Gateway Regional High School, Kara Kitchen, teacher of art and Glenda Donovan, School Librarian and Drama teacher attended an accreditation seminar on November 28, 2006 at Suffield High School.

Sponsored by the Commission on Public Secondary Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the program was offered for principals and self-study steering committee members of schools scheduled to be evaluated this year.  The seminar provided information to help schools finalize their plans for the evaluation visit and to learn more about the evaluation report and its review by the Commission on Public secondary Schools.  Participants shared their reactions to the self-study process with members of the Commission staff.

Gateway Regional High School will undergo its accreditation visit later this school year.

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, founded in 1885, is the oldest accrediting agency in the country and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable agency to award accreditation in the New England area.  The Association is a voluntary accrediting agency of more than 2000 public and private schools, colleges and universities.  Of these, approximately 648 public K-12, middle/high, and high schools have been accredited through the Association’s Commission on Public Secondary Schools.