To Superintendent Shea: A Request for Information

February 22, 2013

  

Michael R. Shea, Interim Superintendent

Paul Rodrigues Administration Building

455 County St.

New Bedford, MA  02740

RE:  Request for Information

Dear Superintendent Shea,

The New Bedford Educators Association (NBEA) is a proponent of programming that benefits the students of New Bedford.  This request for information is prompted by a review of the Innovation Plans, which we received in December 2012, for the proposed Renaissance Community School for the Arts (Renaissance) and the Esperanza School of Language and Culture (Esperanza). Education that incorporates best practices and the input of NBEA educators is a win for all parties.  We want the very best for our community, but a clear understanding of all of the ramifications of this plan on all students, not just those who reside in the proposed “catchment area,’’ is necessary to fully inform the public of the impact of these innovation schools on all of New Bedford’s students, faculty and citizens.

We ask that the School Committee postpone the requisite public hearing and subsequent vote until the NBEA receives this information to study the impact of the proposed innovation schools on all students and all of our members.  We also request advance notice of the public hearing and notice of the School Committee’s intention to hold a final vote on authorizing the proposed innovation schools. 

The New Bedford Educators Association hereby requests the following information under MGL c. 150E.  We require this information in connection with our responsibilities as the exclusive representative for bargaining unit members to determine possible impacts should the Renaissance and/or Esperanza plans be approved. The NBEA seeks said information to examine the likely impact of the establishment of the schools on students and faculty in the district as required by M.G.L. c. 71, § 92 and to ensure that said plans are cost neutral per the Memorandum of Agreement negotiated by and between the NBEA and the New Bedford School Committee.  

Request for Information

Renaissance Community School for the Arts

1.     Provide the per-pupil budgets for the New Bedford Public Schools.  If the per- pupil budget differs from school to school, provide the per-pupil budget for each school within the district for the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. Include how the calculations were arrived at for the periods described.

2.     Provide the anticipated per-pupil budget for the Renaissance Community School for the Arts for the 2013-2014 school year. Include how the calculation was determined for the 2013-2014 school year.

3.     It is the understanding of the NBEA that, if the Renaissance Community School for the Arts plan is approved, the amount of the budget allocated for this school is set by the plan.  Please provide the total budget for the Renaissance Community School for the Arts for the 2013- 2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years.  Include how the calculations were arrived at for the periods set forth above.

4.     Provide the following details for the budget for the 2013-2014 school year (fiscal year 2014) which includes a total amount of expenditures in the following categories of anticipated expenditures and clearly identifies the underlying expenses:

           

·      Personnel costs, including but not limited to: salary, benefits, MTRS, payroll taxes paid for administration (principal, headmaster, assistant principal(s); teachers (broken down by classroom; special educators; guidance counselor(s); social worker(s); specialist(s); site coordinator; interventionists;); nurse(s); clerical staff; paraprofessionals; custodial staff; cafeteria staff.  Also include any shared staff and the portion of said shared staff salary and benefits that will be paid for out of the Renaissance Community School for the Arts’ budget.

·      Insurance costs for non-employees.

·      Student services costs including but not limited to special education services not listed; any and all testing expenditures; family services.

·      Professional development costs.

·      Substitute teachers and other substitute or temporary personnel costs.

·      Contracted Services: Any services and/or providers with whom the Renaissance Community School for the Arts will contract.

·      Facility costs: Lease and or rental agreements entered into between the District and the Renaissance Community School for the Arts, including the amount of rent to be paid to the District.

·      Facility management costs, including but not limited to: utilities; janitorial services; cleaning and general supplies; network systems and technology (telephones, typewriters, copy and fax machines, computers, intercoms, etc).

·      Human resources; accounting/audit fees; payroll fees; PR/outreach; recruitment costs.

·      All materials and supplies: Including furniture for all instructional and non-instructional spaces.

·      Textbooks.

·      Contingency.

·      Transportation costs, including field trips.

·      Any other costs not referred to above.

5.     How many rooms (classrooms/ancillary rooms) within the Gomes School are going to be used by Renaissance?

6.     Where will Renaissance class/office spaces be located?

7.     Which Gomes classes will be relocated due to the opening of the Renaissance School within the current Gomes School?

8.     Where will the displaced classes be located within the Gomes School?

9.     Will any Gomes classes need to be relocated outside of the Gomes School?  If the answer is in the affirmative, where will these classes be housed?

10.  What Gomes or other staff/services will be shared with the Renaissance School?

11.  What is the total enrollment of the Gomes School for the 2012-2013 school year?

12.  How many of the enrolled students reside in the Gomes “catchment area”?

13.  Describe all programs housed at the Gomes School for the 2013-2014 school year.  Include special education; ESL; sheltered English and programs that serve a particular student population.

14.  Why are students enrolled at Gomes who are not part of the “catchment area” attending the Gomes School?

15.  What is the current class size, by grade, at the Gomes School?  Identify the number and position of personnel in each classroom at the Gomes School for the 2013-2014 school year.  For example, one classroom teacher and one paraprofessional.

16.  What will the size be, by grade, at the Renaissance School in each classroom? As part of this request, list the personnel who will be assigned in each classroom for the 2013-2014 school year.

17.  Provide a complete list of all positions anticipated for the Renaissance School, including but not limited to, administration, teachers, specialists, clerical, paraprofessionals, and/or custodial.

18.  What will the size be, by grade, at the Gomes School in each classroom?  As part of this request, list the personnel who will be assigned in each classroom during the 2013-2014 school year.

19.  M.G. L. c. 71, § 92(d) sets forth two types of structures.  Please state whether the plan is one which (i) faculty and leadership are primarily responsible for developing the plan under which the school operates and leadership is responsible for meeting the terms of the plan, or, (ii) is the plan one which an external partner is primarily responsible for developing the innovation plan under which the school operates and the external partner is responsible for meeting the terms of the innovation plan?

20.  Describe the leadership structure to be employed at Renaissance.

21.  The prospectus dated July 13, 2012, has a total enrollment of 224 students with a total staff of 34. The December 17, 2012 Renaissance plan has a total enrollment of 330 students with a total staff of 31.  The December plan represents an increase in enrollment of 106 students and a decrease in staffing of three.  Explain the plan’s increase in capacity while decreasing staff and the effect this will have on class size and any and all programs at Renaissance. 

22.  What would be the impact of the innovation plan’s grant of “immunity” to the Renaissance School from the district’s decisions to eliminate staff or programming on other students and staff in New Bedford?

23.  How will the different schedules of the Gomes and Renaissance Schools, respectively, affect the following: bus schedules, non-Renaissance teacher coverage for Renaissance teachers and activities or vice versa, front office staff responsibilities, different activity and noise levels which accompany differing arrival, lunch and dismissal times?

24.  To what extent are non-Renaissance teachers responsible for Renaissance students?  By way of example, if a non-Renaissance teacher observes bullying or abuse of Renaissance students does the teacher report said abuse to his/her principal or the Renaissance principal?

25.  Is there any plan for replication of the curriculum and practices of Renaissance, if the program is successful, and how will that be accomplished?

26.  How does the low teacher/student ratio at Renaissance impact teacher/student ratios in the District?

27.  What is the additional cost for custodial, secretarial and security for the extended hours at the Renaissance including evening meetings?

Request for Information

Esperanza School of Language and Culture

28.  Provide the per-pupil budgets for the New Bedford Public Schools.  If the per- pupil budget differs from school to school, provide the per-pupil budget for each school within the district for the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. Include how the calculations were arrived at for the periods described.

29.  Provide the anticipated per-pupil budget for the Esperanza School of Language and Culture (Esperanza) for the 2013-2014 school year.  Include how the calculation was determined for the 2013-2014 school year.

30.  It is the understanding of the NBEA that if Esperanza’s plan is approved, the amount of the budget allocated for this school is set by the plan.  Please provide the total budget for Esperanza for the 2013- 2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years.  Include how the calculations were arrived at for the periods set forth above.

31.  Provide the following details for the budget for the 2013-2014 school year, which includes a total amount of expenditures in the following categories of anticipated expenditures and clearly identifies the underlying expenses:

           

·      Personnel costs, including but not limited to, salary, benefits, MTRS, payroll taxes for administration (principal, headmaster, assistant principal(s)); teachers (broken down by classroom; special educators; guidance counselor(s); social worker(s); specialist(s); site coordinator; interventionists;); nurse(s); clerical staff; paraprofessionals; custodial staff; cafeteria staff.  Also include any shared staff and the portion of said “shared” staff salary and benefits that will be paid for out of the Esperanza   budget. Designate positions that will require bilingual, English and/or Spanish proficiency.

·      Insurance costs for non-employees.

·      Student services costs, including but not limited to special education services not listed; any and all testing expenditures; family services;

·      Professional development costs.

·      Substitute teachers and other substitute or temporary personnel costs.

·      Contracted services: Any services and/or providers with whom the Esperanza School of Language and Culture will contract.

·      Facility expenses: Lease and or rental agreements entered into between the District and Esperanza, including the amount of rent to be paid to the District.

·      Facility management costs, including but not limited to: utilities; janitorial services; cleaning and general supplies; network systems and technology (telephones, typewriters, copy and fax machines, computers, intercoms, security system, etc.).

·      Human resources; accounting/audit fees; payroll fees; PR/outreach; recruitment costs.

·      All materials and supplies, including furniture for all instructional and non-instructional spaces.

·      Costs related to adapting a middle school to accommodate elementary age students (i.e. bathroom adjustments).

·      Textbooks.

·      Contingency.

·      Transportation costs, including field trips.

·      Any other costs not referenced above.

32.  How many rooms (classrooms/ancillary rooms) within the Roosevelt Middle School are going to be used by Esperanza?

33.  Where will these classes/office spaces be located?

34.  What classes will be relocated due to the opening of the Esperanza School within the current Roosevelt Middle School?

35.  Where will the displaced Roosevelt Middle School classes be located?

36.  Will any Roosevelt classes need to be relocated outside of the Roosevelt Middle School?  If the answer is in the affirmative, where will these classes be housed?

37.  Where will the Esperanza classes be located?

38.  What Roosevelt or other staff/services will be shared with Esperanza?

39.  What is the total enrollment of the Roosevelt Middle School for the 2012-2013 school year?

40.  What is the total capacity enrollment of the Roosevelt Middle School?

41.  Is enrollment open to all K-2 students in the New Bedford Public Schools?

42.  Is there a particular “catchment area” that students must reside in to be part of the lottery for admittance to Esperanza?

43.  Describe all programs housed at the Roosevelt Middle School for the 2013-2014 school year.  Include special education; ESL; sheltered English and programs that serve a particular student population.

44.  What is the current class size, by grade, at the Roosevelt Middle School?  Identify the number and position of personnel in each classroom at the Roosevelt Middle School for the 2013-2014 school year.  For example, one classroom teacher and one paraprofessional.

45.  What will the size be, by grade, at the Esperanza School in each classroom? As part of this request, list the personnel who will be assigned in each classroom for the 2013-2014 school year.

46.  What will the size be, by grade, at the Roosevelt Middle School in each classroom? As part of this request, list the personnel who will be assigned to each classroom during the 2013-2014 school year?

47.  M.G. L. c. 71, § 92(d) sets forth two types of structures.  Please state whether the plan is one which (i) faculty and leadership are primarily responsible for developing the plan under which the school operates and leadership is responsible for meeting the terms of the plan, or, (ii) is the plan one which an external partner is primarily responsible for developing the innovation plan under which the school operates and the external partner is responsible for meeting the terms of the innovation plan?

48.  Describe the leadership structure to be employed at Esperanza.

49.  The prospectus dated July 15, 2012 has a total enrollment of 360 students with a total staff of 22. The December 17, 2012 Esperanza plan has a total enrollment of 425 students with a total staff of 22.  The December plan represents an increase in enrollment of 65 students, with staffing remaining at 22.  Please explain the increase in capacity with a staff of 22 and the effect this will have on class size and on any and all programs at the Esperanza.

50.  The plan refers to 22 staff for Esperanza.  Are these classroom teachers?  Please provide the titles and number of all staff that will work at the Esperanza School, including but not limited to administrators, specialists (guidance, adjustment counselors, special educators, physical educators, art teachers, music teachers, intervention specialists), clerical, paraprofessionals and custodians.

51.  What is the impact of the innovation plan’s terms and limitations relative to hiring, transfer and recall on the non-Esperanza students and staff in the New Bedford Public Schools.

52.  How will the different schedules between the Roosevelt and Esperanza Schools affect the following: bus schedules, non-Renaissance teacher coverage for Renaissance teachers and activities or vice versa, front office staff responsibilities, different activity and noise levels which accompany differing arrival, lunch and dismissal times?

53.  To what extent are non-Esperanza teachers responsible for Roosevelt students?  By way of example, if a non Esperanza teacher observes bullying or abuse of Roosevelt students does the teacher report said abuse to his/her principal or the Esperanza principal?

54.  Is there any plan for replication of the curriculum and practices of Esperanza, if the program is successful, and how will that be accomplished?

55.  What is the additional cost for custodial, secretarial and security for the extended hours at the Esperanza including evening meetings?

Please forward the requested information to NBEA President Lou St. John by March 15, 2013.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Lou St. John, President NBEA

Ann Sullivan, MTA Regional Manager

cc         Mayor Jonathan F. Mitchell, Chairperson

            New Bedford School Committee

            Members, New Bedford School Committee

            Joy Beckwith, MTA Regional Consultant