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West High School principal Rick Dichard; Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Manchester; Mike Skelton, president & CEO, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce; Susan Huard, president, Manchester Community College; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bolgen Vargas; Mayor Ted Gatsas; Alex Walker, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Medical Center Manchester School District (MSD) has received $300,000 from the Barr Foundation to support plans to transform West High School into a competency-based, student-centered learning model of education. Based in Boston, the Barr Foundation directs its investments to nonprofit organizations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to connect all students to success in high school and beyond. The funds from this grant will help MSD and its partners , including the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester and other local agencies and businesses, develop a plan to transform five key areas of the West High School experience: o...

Dear Manchester School District families and staff, We recognize that the timing of this morning’s announcement to close Manchester public schools was inconvenient for many families who were on their way to school or work.  The results of last night’s storm and the time to collect and assess information complicated some of the coordination that takes place when we decide to close or delay school. Unlike during a winter storm when the impact on the city is sometimes easier to evaluate all at once, reports about power outages at several schools today came in at different times. The outage at Beech Street Elementary School had the most serious effect, because that is where all of the meals for 13 out of 14 elementary school are prepared. The decision to cancel school came when we determined the district-wide impact. We understand that some students were waiting at bus stops or had already been picked up. Manchester Transportation Authority successfully implemented our emergency ...

Superintendent Bolgen Vargas has named Amy Allen as the new Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education & Innovation in Manchester. The Board of School Committee approved the appointment at Monday night’s meeting. Allen began working in the district in 2009. She was assistant principal of student services at Hillside Middle School before moving to her most recent position of principal at Parker-Varney Elementary School in 2013.  During her time at Parker-Varney, Allen focused on raising achievement for all students, closing the achievement gap, preparing students for college and career, and providing supports for her faculty and staff to accomplish those goals. Parker-Varney received the 2015 Elementary School of Excellence EDie Award from the New Hampshire Excellence in Education committee. In 2016, the school was recognized by the National Principals Leadership Institute with the School Innovation and Change Award. Parker-Varney has received national attention thi...

Longtime paraprofessional Gail Dubois of Highland-Goffe's Fall's Elementary School has been nominated by principal Susan Matthews to receive a LifeChanger of the Year award. LifeChanger of the Year, sponsored and organized by National Life Group and the National Life Group Foundation, is an annual program recognizing K-12 educators and school employees across the country. The program celebrates those who are making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership. We first met Mrs. Dubois when we visited Highland last winter to meet her therapy dog, Remington . Mrs. Dubois has done amazing things for her students. Read the full nomination online . Manchester has many life changers. In 2016, Parker-Varney Elementary School social worker Ginger Drechsel was nominated for the same award. Good luck, Mrs. Dubois!

Manchester Firefighters for Operation Warm are on a mission to provide brand-new, USA-made coats to children in need in our city. Hundreds of them are students in Manchester's schools. Since 2012, IAFF Firefighters have provided more than 200,000 coats nationwide to children who need them the most, providing a gift of warmth in the communities our firefighters protect. This is not a coat drive, but rather a fundraising effort to allow the firefighters to purchase the coats. Can you help? Click HERE to donate.

The Manchester Education Association has named assistant superintendent Dr. Christine Martin the recipient of its new Partner in Education Award, as voted on unanimously by the MEA executive board. Dr. Martin was honored for always making students her highest priority -- as a teacher, principal, and administrator. In presenting Dr. Martin with the award, MEA president Sue Hannan said, "Chris has always preferred to collaborate rather than argue, and looks for creative ways to solve problems. She is that rare gem who attended school in the Manchester School District, and followed her calling to succeed at every level of educator in the district where she learned to love school." Dr. Martin will celebrate 30 years in the Manchester School District in 2018.