Edward A. Bouquillon, superintendent-director for the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District, received the 11-annual Dr. Patrick A. Schettini Jr. Memorial Award from the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) for his longstanding commitment to safety of the students and staff at Minuteman.

Bouquillon

More than 120 school superintendents, police chiefs and fire chiefs joined Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and members of MPY to honor Dr. Bouquillon in a virtual ceremony. The annual event brings together staff from the district attorney’s office, law enforcement, educators and community leaders to collaborate on student safety, juvenile justice and crime-prevention strategies.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for our commitment to the safety and health of our students and staff,” Bouquillon said in a Nov. 17 school news release.

In selecting Dr. Bouquillon for the 2020 award, MPY cited the integration of security cameras, tap-card systems, information technology infrastructure, and other innovative and cost-effective security features in the new Minuteman High School building, which opened in September 2019.

Security at issue

“Security and safety were foremost in our minds as we worked with students, staff and our architects, from Kaestle Boos Associates, to create a welcoming, yet secure, learning environment,” Bouquillon said. “It’s the work of my committed team, and our shared dedication to fostering a safe environment, which has allowed Minuteman to become a leader in school safety design and implementation. We thank our partners in the law enforcement, first responders, and firefighting communities for their collaboration in this important effort.”

The Schettini Award, named after the late Reading schools superintendent, is presented annually to a school superintendent, fire chief or police chief for their commitment to the health and safety of students in their communities.

“We are continually impressed with Minuteman’s commitment to proactively address safety and social-emotional support for students,” said Margie Daniels, executive director of MPY. “Under Dr. Bouquillon’s leadership, the lines of communication have always remained open between the school and law enforcement, and students receive the support they need. Seizing upon the opportunity to enhance these efforts with the opening of a new building was tremendous.”

Minuteman’s response to Covid-19 was another reason MPY selected Bouquillon for the Schettini Award. Shortly after schools closed in March, Minuteman donated more than 400 packages of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Lexington and Lincoln police and fire departments.

Hybrid learning

Bouquillon led an extensive effort to develop the Hybrid Learning Model to safely reopen school this fall. His commitment to effective communications with families led to the creation of this video about the new health and safety precautions, which was later shared on social media by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as an example of highly effective digital communication.

Additionally, Bouquillon had a building on campus reoutfitted to accommodate the children of teachers and staff members, who had to engage in remote learning.

During Minuteman’s partnership with MPY over the past 13 years, the organization has involved students and staff in critical thinking and culture-building workshops and provided important networking opportunities for staff with public safety officials in the region. Minuteman staff have attended countless professional conferences organized by MPY, while students have benefitted from numerous in-school workshops pertaining to bullying, substance abuse and impaired driving.

Bouquillon participates in the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth virtual Schettini Award ceremony on Nov. 17.

Superintendent accepts the Schettini Award during the virtual ceremony.

Sept. 11, 2019: Bouquillon semifinalist for '19 U.S. Superintendent of Year

This news announcement was published Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. The writer is Dave O'Brien, who works for Minuteman.