Gateway Regional School District (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Gateway Regional School District is a school district
serving students from seven surrounding towns in Massachusetts
including Huntington, Massachusetts
, Russell, Massachusetts
, Blandford, Massachusetts
, Chester, Massachusetts
, Worthington, Massachusetts
, Montgomery, Massachusetts
, and Middlefield, Massachusetts
.
The district consists of 5 elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school providing educational services to approximately 1,500 students in grades K-12.
Due to recent budget cuts, It was announced that Russell Elementary and Blandford Elementary will be closing. Students that normally would have attended will go to Littleville Elementary.
At town meetings in 1961, initial funds were appropriated for capital outlay, and an option to purchase the present school site was taken. The architects and contractors were chosen, and ground-breaking ceremonies were held on June 28, 1962. Superintendent Dana O. Webber was elected Superintendent by the committee at its inception and has been re-elected each year since. Mrs. Stella Belisle was elected clerk of the committee in 1961.
In the fall of 1962, the town of Middlefield requested an amendment for its admittance to the district, and in November that town was admitted. The new school began its official school year on Wednesday, September 4, 1963, with an enrollment of 240 Students.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
serving students from seven surrounding towns in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
including Huntington, Massachusetts
Huntington, Massachusetts
Huntington is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,174 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Russell, Massachusetts
Russell, Massachusetts
Russell is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,775 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Blandford, Massachusetts
Blandford, Massachusetts
Blandford is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the home of the Blandford Ski Area.- History :...
, Chester, Massachusetts
Chester, Massachusetts
Chester is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, situated in the western part of the state. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area. The town includes the Chester Factory Village Historic District. The total population was 1,337 in the 2010...
, Worthington, Massachusetts
Worthington, Massachusetts
Worthington is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Montgomery, Massachusetts
Montgomery, Massachusetts
Montgomery is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 838 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and Middlefield, Massachusetts
Middlefield, Massachusetts
Middlefield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 542 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
The district consists of 5 elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school providing educational services to approximately 1,500 students in grades K-12.
Schools
Gateway Regional's system includes- Gateway Regional High SchoolGateway Regional High School (Massachusetts)Gateway Regional High School is a public secondary school located at 12 Littleville Road in Huntington, Massachusetts. It is the only high school in the Gateway Regional School District, serving students from Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Russell, Woronoco, and...
- Gateway Regional Middle School
- Littleville Elementary
- R.H. Conwell Elementary
- Chester Elementary
- Blandford Elementary (closed)
- Russell Elementary (closed)
Due to recent budget cuts, It was announced that Russell Elementary and Blandford Elementary will be closing. Students that normally would have attended will go to Littleville Elementary.
Administration
- Laurie Marvel - Jr./Sr.High School Principal
- Celeste Malvezzi - Jr./Sr. High School Assistant Principal
- Todd Gazda - Middle School Principal
- Meghan Couborn - Elementary School Principal
- Alice Taverna - Director of Pupil Services
History
In 1949, the concept of a regional high school was presented to the townspeople by Superintendent, Dana O. Webber as a solution to the educational facilities problem in this valley. The idea was voted down at that time but was presented again in 1950-1951. Many meetings were held in the towns involved, and a brochure suggesting curriculum and cost was presented to the townspeople. But in 1952 the issue was once more turned down by the voters. It was not until 1955 that the matter was reconsidered. The committee spent more than a year trying to arrive at a solution best suited to the four towns, and in May 1957, Huntington and Montgomery voted in favor of accepting; Blandford had a tie vote; and Chester defeated the issue. In July of the same year, the towns of Huntington and Montgomery voted to form a two-town district, the nucleus of the eventual Gateway Regional School District. Worthington and Chester were admitted by amendment in 1959, but Chester withdrew in 1960.At town meetings in 1961, initial funds were appropriated for capital outlay, and an option to purchase the present school site was taken. The architects and contractors were chosen, and ground-breaking ceremonies were held on June 28, 1962. Superintendent Dana O. Webber was elected Superintendent by the committee at its inception and has been re-elected each year since. Mrs. Stella Belisle was elected clerk of the committee in 1961.
In the fall of 1962, the town of Middlefield requested an amendment for its admittance to the district, and in November that town was admitted. The new school began its official school year on Wednesday, September 4, 1963, with an enrollment of 240 Students.