LAKEVILLE — Freetown Lakeville Superintendent Alan Strauss wrapped up year two of his contract with good grades, as articulated by the School Committee during his evaluation at the committee’s Sept. 4 meeting. 

With the exception of one school committee member, Strauss received a “proficient” rating overall for his performance. 

Members gave individual ratings on Strauss’ work according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education rubric. Areas of assessment included leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement and professional culture. 

Proficient is the second highest rating on the scale, with the highest being “exemplary.” Other options included “unsatisfactory” and “needs improvement.”

Strauss received a review of “proficient” from most committee members in all state standards except for management and operations, which includes fiscal systems. There, the school committee gave Strauss grades of “unsatisfactory” and “needs improvement,” because of the $800,000 deficit in the district’s 2025 budget detected at the end of the school year. 

That said, School Committee Vice Chair Will Sienkewicz noted: “I’m confident that the superintendent is already trying to fix what has transpired.” 

Strauss was specifically given praise for his work in the area of family and community engagement. 

“When he’s here, he’s visible, probably to his own detriment at times,” said Sienkewicz. Member Jennifer Blum described Strauss as "exemplary” in this area.

Strauss’ work in encouraging teachers to present student projects at committee meetings was also highlighted. 

“It’s been really nice to see our teachers and how excited they are to present,” said Blum. 

According to the committee, he either met or exceeded the individual goals he set at the beginning of his contract, which included objectives in the categories of communication and engagement, student learning and school improvement. 

The committee specifically called attention to his efforts to create consistent hiring practices and improve rates of student absenteeism. 

Strauss received an overall proficient rating from all members for his performance, with the exception of School Committee member Crystal Ng who “did not have him as overall proficient,” she said.