As our children know, the first few weeks of school can be tough. The New Bedford Public Schools are having a particularly difficult start this year. The state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education took the first step toward taking over one of our elementary schools — one of only four schools facing this move among the state's 1,500 public schools — and has just designated New Bedford High School "underperforming," one week after The Standard-Times reported on the problems our high school students have faced this year with routine issues like class scheduling. This comes after repeated budgetary and administrative missteps over the last few years.
Let's make no mistake: Our schools are at a crossroads. We cannot stay on the same path. State government, which provides most of the New Bedford Public Schools' funding, continues to stand ready to help. But the New Bedford Public Schools themselves must take the lead. Our schools need leadership, leadership with a vision and clear goals for our schools, leadership willing to set specific performance standards and hold schools and principals accountable for meeting them.
Over the past 18 months, the state has stepped in repeatedly to help the New Bedford Public Schools.
Last year, the school department undercounted low-income students, a mistake that was going to cost the district more than $2 million. Sen. Montigny and I raced to secure an additional $2.4 million of state aid for the New Bedford Public Schools in the final days of the legislative session. After our unprecedented legislative intervention, not all of the $2.4 million was used to directly impact classroom instruction. For example, approximately $400,000 went to repairs at Carney Academy and $513,000 went to the city's general government unclassified account.
During this same period, the school department failed to secure state grants designed to help cities like New Bedford. For example, the New Bedford Public Schools' application for a Gateway Cities English Language Learners Grant, worth up to $350,000, was rejected though New Bedford had once been a leader for educating English language learners.
Meanwhile, the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus, of which I am the House chairman, worked with Gov. Patrick last year to create two new grant programs for schools in Gateway Cities, like New Bedford. Last month the Legislature passed a budget with the highest state school aid ever. New Bedford Public Schools will receive over $120 million of state aid this year. That is $4 million more than last year.
Nevertheless, as reported by The Standard-Times, accounting and clerical errors emerged early this year, creating a $3.5 million school deficit. As a result, the department cut approximately 230 positions, including issuing pink slips to up to 150 educators. As an underperforming school district, the last thing the New Bedford Public Schools should be doing is reducing the number of teachers.
To improve classroom instruction, our schools need resources. But, instead of pinching pennies, our schools managed to leave money on the table.
In addition, the New Bedford Public Schools have struggled to fully implement the turnaround plans required of state designated "underperforming" districts like New Bedford. For example, in the city's turnaround plan for the 2012-13 school year, which was required by the state, common planning time for teachers was a major priority and was supposed to begin in elementary schools in December, with full implementation by June. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, common planning time was put on hold. It's important that the schools reach a balanced agreement that gives teachers adequate common and individual planning time, and do so quickly.
There is hope.
New Superintendent Pia Durkin seems aware of the challenges and intent on tackling them. Our schools have just received approval from the state Board of Education for a turnaround plan for the current school year. This plan contains more directives for teachers and measurable goals for teachers, principals and students. Several of our elementary schools are performing well and there are students, parents, teachers and principals all across the district, in every school, who are dedicated to meeting goals and creating great schools. All of us have a role to play.
I will continue to push for more state dollars for our public schools, because I understand that schools need financial resources to provide all of the services we expect from them today. In addition, I'll continue to fight for legislation that would help New Bedford's Schools as well as improve schools statewide. For example, my legislation would make full-day kindergarten available to every student, establish standards for pre-kindergarten and raise the minimum dropout age to 18.
A quality education for every child in New Bedford requires a partnership between the superintendent, the New Bedford Educators Association, the mayor, city councilors and School Committee members, the city's legislative delegation and state education officials. I know we are capable of that partnership. Our children and our city deserve no less.
10 comments:
Very well said. Thank you for your support towards education, our teachers and children truly deserve better.
I often wondered what our country would have been like if Al Gore had been president instead of George W. Bush. I think our country would have been a lot better off. I feel the same way about Tony Cabral - have you ever wondered how different things would be in New Bedford had he been elected instead of Jon Mitchell???
Perfectly written. Thank you for pointing out the fact that so many teachers have been cut. These cuts have caused class sizes to swell. I attended my daughter's open house this week and I couldn't believe how many student desks were squeezed into her small classroom.
Too little, too late?
Please also remember that when the special education teachers are cut, it leaves the general educators with many students need sped services. Sped services are not being provided to the full minutes on IEP's. We are out of compliance due to sheer numbers.
Why did 513,000$go back to the city.and we should not have to pay for repairs out of the school budget,the city should pay for the upkeep of the buildings...we need the money to go to the children ,not these expenses.we get millions of dollars,but by the time it reaches the classroom level ,everyone has taken a piece of it whether legally or illegally.
By the completion of this comment 100% of the stakeholders responsible for education of the students of this city will be no closer to the remedy of problems and issues they are attempting to solve. I know this by the deluge of artifacts that have been thrown and slid down the wall of hope. Lets get real, and it starts with parents being parents, and students being responsible for their own education.
Money to fix Carney??? Didn't the district have insurance on the school and stuff in the building? I know teachers didn't get any of it to pay for their personal stuff they lost. I would love to see where the money went. I know they got new copiers but the damage from the fire didn't affect the old ones so.... did Carney get more because it is Carney, as usual. Different rules for
Your article states "There is hope.
New Superintendent Pia Durkin seems aware of the challenges and intent on tackling them." I would take exception to that. She is, perhaps, aware of the challenges. However, she is absolutely not going about "tackling" them in the right way.
None of us got into this career to make money, but to teach and make a positive impact on young lives. Most of us are doing our jobs, and doing them well under the circumstances.
This Superintendent is just a BULLY, someone looking for a scapegoat and killing the messenger. Pia Durkin does NOT have the answer to our challenges.
Has Representative Cabral read, "Savage Inequalities" by J. Kozol? The same equality issues are applicable today; A cycle that keeps repeating itself.
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